A PAEDOPHILE who raped and abused six young girls three decades ago has been jailed for 20 years.
David Jackson, 59, of Sandringham Road, Chaddesden, was convicted by a Derby Crown Court jury of 14 counts of rape, seven of indecent assault and one of gross indecency with a child.
His victims were aged between five and 14 and some he abused for years.
One of his victims, who is now a mother and in her 30s, told the Derby Telegraph Jackson would say that if she told anyone about the abuse she would never see her mum again.
The woman said: "He knew I loved my mum and I never saw her much, so he used that against me.
"He would take me upstairs in his house and abuse me and then send me off to the shop to buy some sweets."
She said the abuse had a big impact on her life.
"It has made me wary with men around my daughters and it has affected my relationships," she said.
The woman, whom Jackson abused between the ages of seven and 12, said she was pleased she had gone to the police but wished she had reported it sooner.
She said: "He's an old man now and has lived most of his life but I just didn't feel strong enough to do it before.
"I would encourage anyone who has been abused to go to the police, and it's never too late to do this."
Detective Constable Luke Harper, investigating officer in the case, said that the first victim had come forward in February last year and she told them she suspected Jackson had abused more. The others then made statements. Jackson denied the charges throughout.
DC Harper said: "I would like to commend the bravery of each of these six women who have all had to live for years knowing what David Jackson had done to them when they were children.
"They have all shown tremendous strength and courage to come forward to tell the police and the court what happened to them. I hope the findings of the court and the length of the sentence will help bring some closure so they can now move on with the rest of their lives.
"Derbyshire Constabulary always takes reports of this nature seriously and will complete thorough investigations in order to seek justice for victims."
