22 years for former BBC man who abused boys

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 former Radio Clyde broadcaster Michael Souter was sentenced yesterday, having been 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.

Norfolk Police said the 60-year-old, of Loddon, Norfolk, was responsible for “one of the worst cases of prolonged child abuse” officers had dealt with.

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Souter’s victims and their families packed Norwich Crown Court for the sentencing.

Judge Mark Lucraft QC said there were others not covered by the counts in this trial who were also abused by Souter, and described his attempts to claim the allegations were fabricated 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,” the judge added.

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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 also 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.

After the conviction, Norfolk Police confirmed they were investigating further allegations of abuse against Souter.

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.