DEREK LEMMON, PORTSMOUTH SEX OFFENDER, DIES IN WINCHESTER PRISON

In December 2018, it was reported that Derek Lemmon, a convicted sex offender from Portsmouth, had died in prison. An inquest into his death was initiated after he passed away at Winchester Prison on November 24, 2018. Lemmon, aged 85 and residing on Salisbury Road, Portsmouth, had been imprisoned following his admission to eight counts of indecent assault, two of which would now be classified as rape offences.

Lemmon's abuse of a young girl began in the 1990s when she was just 10 years old. He was sentenced in July 2017 to 12 years and six months at Portsmouth Crown Court after pleading guilty. The Portsmouth Crown Court heard how the victim endured years of abuse, which included the girl attempting to cleanse herself by bathing in bleach after one assault, in an effort to feel clean.

Prosecutor Simon Foster described Lemmon’s abuse as calculated, noting that he manipulated situations to be alone with his victim. Foster stated, "He controlled, manipulated, and indeed conditioned his victim so that sexual activity between the two of them became effectively the norm for her. I describe this as systematic sexual grooming."

Lemmon’s victim, now in her 40s, spoke of her long-held secret and feelings of relief after coming forward in March of the previous year. She stated in a court statement, “I dreamed for a long time of the day I’d no longer have to be scared for myself and others,” and expressed her belief that “justice has been done.”

During the hearing, Judge Susan Evans commented on the profound impact of Lemmon’s actions, highlighting how the victim was forced to keep the secret for many years and was subjected to his manipulative control, including the attempt to cleanse herself with bleach after his assaults.

Lemmon, who reportedly had limited mobility and hearing difficulties, was sentenced to serve 12 years and six months in custody, followed by a year’s extended licence. The judge remarked, “You will serve half of that custodial term in prison. You will then be released if you live that long.”

Defence lawyer Damian Hayes mentioned that Lemmon would never see his wife again, as she now resides in a nursing home. Outside court, the victim acknowledged she could not have endured the process without support from the Independent Sexual Violence Advocate service, now operated by Aurora New Dawn, which assists victims through the criminal justice system.