A CHILD abuser whose crimes were described as "despicable, depraved and abhorrent" by his own barrister was today jailed for fifteen-and-a-half years.

Retired schoolteacher and youth worker Alan Medd, 77, was said to have "lost everything" when his sordid secrets from decades ago emerged last year.

Tonight, detectives revealed how he had worked in Stockton and in Northumberland, and there could be many more victims yet to have come forward.

Cleveland Police vowed to investigate any complaint "thoroughly, professionally and sensitively" and urged anyone who had been abused to contact them.

Medd's barrister, Adrian Dent, told a courtroom packed with victims and their families that the predatory paedophile is likely to die behind bars.

Medd, of Londonderry Road, Stockton, pleaded guilty to multiple charges of indecent assault and indecency with a child at earlier court hearings.

He returned this morning with a suitcase, and Mr Dent said: "There is, on his part, a sense of relief that after all these years the truth has finally come out.

"He well knows that justice will entail a very substantial custodial sentence . . . what is about to ensue will be a severe punishment for him.

"Given his age, there is every chance that he may die in prison . . . he has always known this day is coming . . . he is here today to face his punishment."

The court heard how Medd, who also lived in nearby Billingham, abused at least four children - grooming one with gifts and ordering others to stay quiet.

Judge Peter Bowers told him: "You cannot begin to understand the profound and enduring damage your abuse causes and has caused to these children."

Medd was also ordered to sign on the sex offenders' register indefinitely, and was banned from having unsupervised contact with under-16s.

The judge told him: "As adults, it is our duty to foster and nurture and protect . . . you did this your own fleeting pleasure and caused lasting damage."

Detective Inspector Simon Walker said afterwards: “This sentence shows the lengths that Cleveland Police will go to when investigating historic sexual offences.

“Alan Medd is a former teacher who worked in schools in the Stockton area as far back as the 1960s and he also had connections to the Northumberland area.

“We would like to reassure members of the public that it is never too late to report an incident of this nature and every report will be investigated thoroughly, professionally and sensitively.

"There are specialist officers and partner agencies available that can help support anyone affected by crimes of this nature.

“Victims should always have complete confidence in coming forward and speaking to police about what has happened to them. Anyone affected by incidents like these is urged to contact police.”

Mr Dent told the court: "What he did, he now appreciates was despicable, depraved and abhorrent.

"He is at a loss to explain why he felt it necessary to behave in this way, but he now understands the hurt and the harm that he has caused.

"Through me, he profoundly apologises to his victims and to their families and to the court . . . he has remorse and sorrow for his conduct."

Prosecutor Richard Bennett told how when Medd was first questioned by police, he "cynically" said: "This is a nightmare for me. I just don't know where it's all come from."

Other victims came forward after the initial disclosure, and Medd ultimately admitted 20 charges of indecent assault, and one of indecency with a child.

  • PERVERT Alan Medd's victims told tonight how the abuse had lived with them for decades.

One said he felt "dirty" and revealed how Medd attacked him whenever "given an opportunity".

Another said she "just accepted" what he was doing and did not really know what has happening.

She revealed how she suffered her first panic attack aged ten, and still suffers from them.

"As time progresses, I think it will start to affect me more," she wrote in a statement.

A third victim said the abuse had impacted "greatly" in his personal and professional lives.

He told how he was a "bubbly, outgoing" child, but became introverted after the attacks.

"I didn't think anyone would believe me," he said. "I thought it was only me. That's why I didn't speak out at the time.

"People used to speak about how great he was.

"I am disgusted by what he has done to everyone, and how he got away with it for so long, being devious and manipulative."