Church elder jailed for sex abuse

A man who abused two girls over a three-year period has been jailed for seven-and-a-half years.

Aaron Hutchinson, 39, of St Chad's Road, Derby, pleaded guilty to two counts of rape and 10 indecent assaults between 1998 and 2001.

Derby Crown Court heard the Jehovah's Witness started abusing both girls when they were in their early teens.

Carl Fender, defending, said Hutchinson was a religious man and had been asked to be an elder in his church in Derby.

The court was told Hutchinson confessed to a church elder before contacting police to tell them about his crimes.

Mr Fender said Hutchinson now wanted to understand what had made him abuse the girls and receive treatment for his offending.

Judge David Price, passing sentence, said the attacks represented a "gross breach of trust" and only a jail term could be justified.