Former police officer jailed for child sex offences

A former police officer has been jailed for indecent assaults on teenage boys spanning three decades.

Derek Feast, of Gruline on the Isle of Mull, Scotland, was handed a 12-year sentence at St Albans Crown Court after he was found guilty of abusing four victims in Hertfordshire and Norfolk between 1972 and 1991.

Feast targeted three of his victims when he volunteered with the Scouts in Hertfordshire - where he also worked as a police officer during the 1970s and early 1980s - and a fourth victim when he worked in a newsagent's shop in Norfolk in 1991.

Det Insp Ben Smith, of Hertfordshire Police, said: "However long ago a crime was committed, we will track you down and get justice for victims."

He added: "The fact that he was a Scout leader and, shockingly, a police officer at the time, makes his offending even more despicable and I hope any victim feels confident that they can report offences however long ago they were committed, and we will take them seriously and work tirelessly to bring them justice."

Feast was traced and interviewed by Hertfordshire investigators in July 2024.

The youngest victim, aged 12 or 13, was sexually assaulted on Scout trips, at Scout meetings and at Feast's then home address in Stevenage, police said.

A second victim was 14 when he was sexually assaulted.

Another was abused over several years, and was first targeted by Feast when he was aged 15.

Feast assaulted his fourth victim, aged 14, in Norfolk, when he was 46. The victim reported the incident to the police shortly afterwards.

Feast was arrested but released with no further action in July 1991.

He was convicted of 17 counts of indecent assault and gross indecency at St Albans Crown Court on 17 February.

Det Con Beverley Thomson said: "His evil acts have had lasting effects on his victims.

"We know it can be incredibly challenging to come forward to report incidents of sexual assault. We take reports of sexual offences very seriously and we will do everything we can to ensure that victims feel like their voices are heard and that offenders are brought to justice."

Feast denied having any sexual contact with three of the boys and claimed he had been in a consensual sexual relationship with one victim.

He was told he must serve half his sentence before being considered for release on licence.

Feast was also placed on the Sex Offenders' Register for life.

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