JOHN DERRETT EX-TEACHER AND ORGANIST FROM KEYINGHAM JAILED FOR SEXUAL OFFENCES AND CHILD PORNOGRAPHY IN SHROPSHIRE AND HULL

In a disturbing case that spans decades and multiple locations, John Derrett, a 64-year-old former music teacher and organist from Keyingham, has been convicted of serious sexual offences involving minors and possession of indecent images of children. The revelations emerged after police uncovered a vast collection of illicit material on his computer, leading to his arrest and subsequent sentencing.

Derrett’s criminal activities came to light in July 2018, when authorities found thousands of highly inappropriate images stored on his device. The collection was so extensive that investigators could only examine approximately 11,000 images, leaving nearly a million others untouched. This discovery prompted a thorough investigation into his conduct, which revealed a disturbing pattern of abuse and exploitation dating back over 40 years.

During police interviews, Derrett admitted to sexually abusing three boys between November 1977 and November 1980 while working in the Shropshire area. He confessed that these offences occurred at his home when the victims were between the ages of 13 and 15, and that he had engaged in inappropriate conduct on multiple occasions. The victims, now adults, provided statements, with only one of them formally reporting the abuse. The victim described being assaulted repeatedly at Derrett’s residence when they were alone, highlighting the ongoing nature of the abuse.

At the time of the offences, Derrett was employed as a choir leader and music teacher. He first met the victim through choir rehearsals and later offered music lessons, which he used as a means to establish trust and access to the minors. The victim described the abuse as “occasional and sporadic,” indicating that it was not a one-time event but a series of inappropriate encounters. Court records also revealed that Derrett had expressed a disturbing attraction to boys aged 14 and older, but admitted to needing younger children to achieve sexual arousal.

In November 2017, Derrett was sentenced at Hull Crown Court to a year in prison for creating and possessing thousands of child pornography images. The police investigation uncovered a collection so vast that only a fraction could be examined. The images consisted of computer-generated pictures, with no actual photographs of children being involved. Derrett had superimposed children’s faces onto adult pornography, creating explicit images with captions that were too graphic to publish. Among these images, some depicted boys aged between nine and 14, with additional “nude” images and extreme content involving animals.

The police found 1,675 images and 114 videos classified as Category A, the most serious, along with numerous other images and videos in Categories B and C. An additional 983,673 images remained unexamined. Derrett also possessed prohibited images and extreme pornography, which further compounded his charges. He pleaded guilty to three counts of possessing indecent images of children, prohibited images, and extreme pornography.

Throughout the investigation, Derrett’s background was scrutinized. He had worked as a school teacher and music instructor until his retirement in 2000, and continued working with choirs until 2007. His references included a notable figure from Keble College, Oxford, which contributed to his reputation before his criminal activities surfaced. Despite his seemingly reputable background, the court found his actions to be profoundly disturbing.

In sentencing, Judge Stephen Thomas emphasized the gravity of Derrett’s offences. He sentenced him to 20 months of immediate imprisonment and imposed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for six years. Derrett is also required to serve at least half of his sentence before being eligible for release on licence. Furthermore, he must register as a sex offender for the same period. The court also noted that if Derrett had denied the charges and been convicted after a trial, the sentence could have been as long as 30 months.

Authorities from West Mercia Police are continuing to investigate potential additional offences committed by Derrett, indicating that the full extent of his criminal conduct may still be uncovered. The case underscores the importance of vigilance and thorough investigation in cases involving child exploitation and abuse, especially when the perpetrator has a seemingly respectable background.