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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 |
| (about 2 hours 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. | 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. | 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. | Souter, of Loddon, Norfolk, stared straight ahead without emotion as the judge spoke. |
| 'Celebrity status' | 'Celebrity status' |
| 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 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. |
| He faced two more counts of possessing indecent images of a child, but was cleared of one and the jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict on the other. | He faced two more counts of possessing indecent images of a child, but was cleared of one and the jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict on the other. |
| He was remanded in custody. | |
| 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 their verdicts. | The jury of nine men and three women took three hours to reach their verdicts. |
| 'Evidence was overwhelming' | |
| After the trial, detectives revealed they were investigating further allegations of abuse against Souter. | After the trial, detectives revealed they were investigating further allegations of abuse against Souter. |
| Norfolk Police confirmed a "live inquiry" was continuing into outstanding claims. | |
| A total of 595 people have been identified as witnesses and it is understood a number have raised concerns about his behaviour. | A total of 595 people have been identified as witnesses and it is understood a number have raised concerns about his behaviour. |
| Det Insp Paul Brown, of Norfolk police's child abuse investigation unit, said Souter had shown no remorse. | |
| "In the trial the evidence was overwhelming and he denied what had appeared to be really obvious," he said. | |
| "There's no doubt in my mind his interaction with different agencies and organisations was based around the persona that he had around the county. | |
| "He used that to ingratiate himself into situations to allow him to offend." | |
| 'Manipulative and predatory' | |
| Sheila Lock, interim director of children's services for Norfolk County Council, said that when Souter first volunteered as a mentor for vulnerable youngsters, he underwent a "robust" assessment before he was allowed any contact with children. | |
| "No concerns were raised through police checks, interviews or references," she said. | |
| When abuse allegations came to light in 1993, the council took them "extremely seriously", she added. | |
| "We worked alongside police to investigate the concerns and took appropriate protective action to safeguard the children Souter had had contact with. | |
| "Souter was clearly a manipulative and predatory man and it is right that he will now serve many years in prison, having added to his victims' suffering by forcing them to give evidence. | |
| "Souter's victims have shown incredible courage in coming forward after so many years and today's verdict proves it is never too late to speak out." | |
| 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. | 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." | "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." |
| 'Truly shocking' | |
| A BBC spokesman said: "The crimes that Michael Souter has been found guilty are truly shocking and the BBC condemns them in the strongest possible terms. | A BBC spokesman said: "The crimes that Michael Souter has been found guilty 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." |
| A spokesman for the Scout Association said Souter had not been a member for 25 years. | |
| "The Scout Association condemns the actions of Souter and is pleased that the judicial process is now complete and he will now be punished for his crimes," he said. | |
| The association had co-operated fully throughout this case, he added. | |
| "We can confirm that he will never be allowed to work within the Scout Movement again," he said. |