Former BBC presenter Michael Souter jailed for 22 years for sexually abusing SEVEN boys over two decades

Souter, dubbed 'predatory paedophile', found guilty of 26 offences

Former BBC Norfolk and Radio Clyde broadcaster, sentenced in Norwich

Norfolk Police said 60-year-old was responsible for 'one of the worst cases of prolonged child abuse' officers had dealt with

More possible victims have come forward as police credit 'Savile effect'



Souter has been jailed for 22 years after being convicted of sexually abusing seven boys over two decades

A former BBC presenter dubbed a ‘predatory paedophile’ has been jailed for 22 years after being convicted of sexually abusing seven boys over two decades.



Ex-BBC Norfolk and Radio Clyde broadcaster Michael Souter was found guilty of 26 offences including indecent assault, indecency with a child, serious sexual offences and seven counts of possessing indecent images of children at a trial which finished earlier this month.



He was sentenced at Norwich Crown Court today.



Norfolk Police said the 60-year-old, of Low Bungay Road, Loddon, Norfolk, was responsible for ‘one of the worst cases of prolonged child abuse’ officers had dealt with.



Souter’s victims and their families packed the court for today’s hearing.



Judge Mark Lucraft QC said there were others not covered by the counts in this trial who were also abused by Souter, who showed no emotion as sentence was passed.



He described Souter’s attempts to claim that the allegations were fabricated - and that police concocted evidence as part of a conspiracy to smear his name - as ‘pathetic’.

‘The childhood of many of your victims was destroyed and their lives blighted,’ he said.



‘You exploited your position to groom each of them.



Hearing: The ex-BBC Norfolk and Radio Clyde broadcaster was sentenced at Norwich Crown Court today

‘You took hundreds of photographs of boys in shorts and were the only person in this court who could not see these pictures for what they were.’



He added that Souter displayed an ‘ongoing sexual obsession with boys’ and posed a risk of further offending on his release from prison. Souter will be banned indefinitely from working with children.



He was also ordered to pay legal costs of £14,694 and may be forced to sell properties in the UK and abroad to pay this, the court heard.

More possible victims have come forward in the two weeks since Souter's conviction, said Detective Inspector Paul Brown, from Norfolk Police.

Referring to Jimmy Savile, he said revelations following the disgraced DJ’s death had encouraged victims of child abuse to speak out.

He added: 'While I wouldn’t compare Souter and Savile directly, both used their celebrity to cultivate a certain respectable image and both cases have served to highlight that social attitudes are changing and child abuse will be investigated rigorously by police.

'We have certainly seen an increase in people coming forward and hopefully convictions like this can continue to give people the confidence to do so.'



Norwich Crown Court heard Souter was a 'sexual deviant' who was obsessed with young boys in shorts and uniform.

The 60-year-old was found guilty of 26 sex offences at Norwich Crown Court and will be banned from working with children indefinitely. The court heard his abuse began in 1979 when he worked at BBC Radio Norfolk



His catalogue of abuse began in 1979 when he worked at BBC Radio Norfolk.

Originally from Scotland, Souter worked as a producer and presenter in both commercial and BBC radio since the mid-1970s. He had previously presented for Radio Clyde.

Since 1989 he has worked as a freelance broadcaster and had run a media relations consultancy.

During the 1980s and 1990s, Souter’s abuse escalated as he took up senior positions within the community, including as a Scout leader and social services youth mentor.

Two of the boys were 'repeatedly abused' over five years.

The broadcaster was first arrested by police in 1993 but, because of a lack of evidence against him, he continued abusing boys for another six years.

One victim said in a statement read to the court: 'Souter’s insistence that he is innocent and that this is all lies and conspiracy has not allowed full release and closure.'

Andrew Hill, defending Souter, said: 'His position prior to these matters - the charitable works and many other local good works - will all be forgotten when it comes to sentencing. A distinguished career in the Navy and journalistically now comes to nought.'