September 2000

Paedophile jailed for 18 years

A 74-year-old man has been jailed for 18 years for committing sex offences against boys at an approved school. 

Ex-Special Constable Derek Hooper, of Bovey Tracey, Devon, was found guilty at Truro Crown Court of 40 offences. 

The assaults were at the former Forde Park School in Newton Abbot during the1960s and 1970s where Hooper was a care assistant, general helper and gardener.

It was claimed that married Hooper – who was a special constable for 17 years – would often tell youngsters they would become one of his “special boys” and hid with them while out on activities – and then attacked them.

Youngsters also claimed he would molest them at a bungalow he owned or encourage them to engage in sexual activity with each other.

Judge Graham Cottle said Hooper “richly deserved” the consequences.