Dangerous paedophile's jail sentence increased

A paedophile who groomed and sexually abused multiple girls across the UK has had his sentence increased after the Solicitor General intervened.

Derek Johnson, 59, from Gloucestershire, was jailed for 15 years in November after admitting a campaign of sexual abuse against three young girls between 2020 and 2023.

Following a referral from Ellie Reeves KC MP, his sentence was increased by four years and six months under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme on 17 April.

Reeves welcomed the decision by the Court of Appeal and commended the victims for their "extraordinary courage and bravery" throughout their "horrific ordeal".

The trial, at Gloucester Crown Court, heard how Johnson met his victims online where he groomed them before travelling across the UK to molest them.

He also filmed the abuse and threatened to share the footage if they stopped complying with his demands.

In one case, he groomed a 13-year-old girl online before taking her to a secluded woodland on Dartmoor, in Devon, where he raped her in a tent.

The child tried to end contact with Johnson afterwards but he threatened to show her family what had taken place.

In another case, he sexually abused a 14-year-old girl at a hotel.

He then moved to Gloucestershire to be closer to her, sexually abusing her for another two years.

The trial heard how his victims were left suicidal, had suffered with depression and panic attacks, dropped out of school and failed to complete GCSE exams.

When Johnson was arrested, numerous electronic devices were seized from his home in Stevenage, Hertfordshire.

They revealed multiple child sexual abuse videos and Johnson had logged details of his offending in a calendar app.

After his initial arrest, Johnson was granted police bail and fled to the Republic of Ireland.

Irish police tracked him down and he was extradited back to the UK in June 2025.

Johnson admitted 16 sex offences relating to children aged between 13 and 16.

"Derek Johnson is a dangerous paedophile," said Reeves.

"He systematically groomed teenage girls he met online before subjecting them to horrendous and sustained mental and physical abuse.

"I welcome the court's decision to increase Derek Johnson's sentence, preventing any further vulnerable victims coming to harm.

"I want to commend the extraordinary courage and bravery shown by the victims throughout this horrific ordeal."

Johnson is now facing a prison sentence of 19 years and six months with a licence extension of five years.

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