Paedophile becomes fourth member of North East family convicted of child sex attacks

Derek Smith, 50, has been jailed for 16 years after he was convicted over a string of offences against children.

The former labourer, from Darlington, whose crimes date back to the 1980s, was also handed a sexual harm prevention order following the trial at Teesside Crown Court.

The court heard that Smith's father, George, 79, had been jailed for eight years for sexually abusing two girls in 2010.

Brother George Smith jr, 54, was jailed for attempted rape and three indecent assaults against a girl in the 1970s, and nephew Mark Smith, 20, is serving a seven-year sentence after he was convicted of raping and sexually assaulting young boys.

Judge Sean Morris was told Smith was likely to die behind bars as his liver is failing.

The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed Smith was convicted of two indecent assaults, four rapes, two sexual assaults, two charges of sexual activity with a child and one other serious sexual offence.