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Ex-BBC DJ Michael Souter guilty of sex attacks on boys | Ex-BBC DJ Michael Souter guilty of sex attacks on boys |
(35 minutes later) | |
A former BBC radio presenter described as a "dominant predator" has been found guilty of sexually abusing boys. | A former BBC radio presenter described as a "dominant predator" has been found guilty of sexually abusing boys. |
Ex-BBC Radio Norfolk and Radio Clyde broadcaster Michael Souter, 60, was convicted of 19 sexual assaults on seven boys aged between 11 and 16. | Ex-BBC Radio Norfolk and Radio Clyde broadcaster Michael Souter, 60, was convicted of 19 sexual assaults on seven boys aged between 11 and 16. |
Souter was a Venture Scouts leader, a volunteer mentor to young people and was even allowed to adopt a child. | |
Judge Mark Lucraft warned him he faced "a long period of imprisonment" when he is sentenced on 31 October. | |
Souter, of Loddon, Norfolk, stared straight ahead without emotion as the judge spoke. | |
'Truly shocking' | 'Truly shocking' |
The jury at Norwich Crown Court also found him guilty of seven counts of making and possessing indecent images of under-18s, after a six-week trial. | |
The court heard Souter used his celebrity status to abuse his victims. | The court heard Souter used his celebrity status to abuse his victims. |
He carried out the attacks between 1979 and 1999. | He carried out the attacks between 1979 and 1999. |
The jury of nine men and three women took three hours to reach verdicts. | |
Det Con Peter Sayer, who led the Norfolk Police investigation, said: "Souter used various opportunities to abuse children whilst being in a position of absolute trust." | Det Con Peter Sayer, who led the Norfolk Police investigation, said: "Souter used various opportunities to abuse children whilst being in a position of absolute trust." |
Chris McCann, head of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) complex casework unit for the East of England, said: "Michael Souter presented himself to people as a local celebrity from radio and television, happy to be involved in charity events, the Scout movement and as a youth mentor for Norfolk social services. | |
"All this was a smokescreen to hide his true intention: to become close to young boys so he could sexually abuse them, confident that his celebrity status would mean they would not be believed." | |
A BBC spokesperson said: "The crimes that Michael Souter has been found guilty of today are truly shocking and the BBC condemns them in the strongest possible terms. | A BBC spokesperson said: "The crimes that Michael Souter has been found guilty of today are truly shocking and the BBC condemns them in the strongest possible terms. |
"Michael Souter has not worked for the BBC since the early 1990s." | "Michael Souter has not worked for the BBC since the early 1990s." |