DJ who sexually abused young boys jailed for 17 yearsÂ

Mark McCormick, 49 of Griffon Close, Bursledon, was given the lengthy jail sentence at Southampton Crown Court today (October 12). 

He had previously pleaded guilty to 14 offences against eight different victims between 1997 and 2011. These were:

- One count of rape

- One count of gross indecency with a child under 14

- Seven counts of indecent assault on a boy under 16

- Three counts of gross indecency with a child under 16

- One count of sexual assault

- One count of taking on indecent photographs of a child under 18

McCormick was sentenced to a total of 17 years. 

Detective Inspector Gareth Jones, from the Child Abuse Investigation Team, said: '˜This investigation involved a close knit community in which Mark McCormick was fully ingratiated.

'˜He used his position as a DJ and a parish councillor to target impressionable young boys and abuse this trust in the most appalling of ways.

'˜He created opportunities to spend time alone with them and to sexually abuse them.

'˜I would like to highlight the courage, resilience and patience of the victims and witnesses who re-lived their experiences and exposed Mark McCormick as the sexual predator he was.

'˜It has been a long road for these victims and expert advice from the Crown Prosecution Service has helped us bring McCormick to justice.'