A former teacher and youth worker who groomed and abused four children has been jailed for more than 15 years.
Even Alan Medd’s own barrister described his sickening crimes as “depraved, despicable and abhorrent”.
The 77-year-old was jailed at Teesside Crown Court today after previously admitting a string of sex offence charges against four children - three boys and one girl.
The offences happened in the 1980s and 1990s and involved children as young as eight.
His barrister Adrian Dent told the court that Medd felt a “sense of relief” that the truth had come out.
He said that there was “every chance” that Medd will die in prison.
The public gallery in the courtroom was packed for the sentencing and as the disgraced teacher was taken away there was a shout of “enjoy yourself” from the gallery.
The court heard that Medd, of Londonderry Road, Stockton, “lost everything” when his sordid secrets were exposed.
And following the case, one of Medd’s victims spoke to The Gazette and urged any other victims to come forward.
The man, who cannot be named, was the first to speak out after contacting police in 2013.
The court heard that Medd had befriended the victim when he was just eight years old, groomed him with gifts and abused him on a number of ocassions.
He told The Gazette: “At the time I didn’t know if there would be other victims, but it doesn’t surprise me that there is. It is vile. Vile and disgusting.
“I am happy that justice has been done.
“I am happy with that sentence, and his barrister said it is possible he may die in prison, well that’s good enough for me.”
The brave victim said he felt “relieved” that the case is over.
He said: “I want to urge any other victims to come forward. I know it is hard. I kept that secret for years, but speaking out about it helped and it is worth it today to see him jailed.”
Medd, who was a teacher in the Stockton area as far back as the 60s, and previously lived in Billingham, entered the court room holding a blue suitcase.
Jailing him for 15-and-a-half years, Judge Peter Bowers said: “You cannot begin to understand the profound, enduring damage tour abusing causes and has caused to these four children.”
In a victim impact statement read out to the court, another victim described Medd as “devious and manipulative”.
The statement ended: “I want him to go to prison for as long as possible.”
Medd admitted nine offences of indecently assaulting a boy under 14,, five charges of indecent assault and one of indecency with a child relating to the young girl, four counts of indecent assault on a young boy and two counts of indecent assault on another boy.
Detective Inspector Simon Walker said: “We are pleased with the outcome at court today. 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 1960’s 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.”
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