A former British Legion volunteer who sexually abused children in foster care over a 20-year period has been jailed.

Paedophile Roy Darvill, of The Crescent, Walthamstow, was sentenced to 16 years behind bars yesterday (Friday, March 10), at Snaresbrook Crown Court.

The 79-year old had previously admitted one count of rape and 29 indecent assaults on five girls, with the youngest just two years old.

Darvill attacked his victims over a period of two decades, beginning in 1975 and continuing the abuse until 1995.

His son, homeless Darren Darvill, 49, was given a two-year suspended sentence after he was found guilty of assaulting one of the girls.

In November 2013 a woman attended an east London police station and disclosed that she had been sexually abused by Roy and Darren Darvill when she was a child.

Police investigating the case were able to identify and trace a further four women, who all made allegations against Roy Darvill.

The victims had all been abused at a home Darvill owned in Walthamstow- between 1975 and 1995 whilst under his foster care.

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

Darvill outside Snaresbrook Crown Court last year

At the time of his initial arrest in December 2013, Darvill had been serving as club secretary of the Royal British Legion’s Leyton branch. He was later charged in March last year.

His son Darren pleaded not guilty to charges and was subsequently found guilty of two counts of indecent assault, which took place at the family home between 1984 and 1988.

DC Colleen Ryan, of the Met’s Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command, said: “Roy Darvill preyed on the most vulnerable of children and abused his position of trust in the most horrific way imaginable.

“The victims had been placed into his care where they should have been afforded the security and love every child deserves.

“Instead they were subjected to systematic sexual abuse.

“One of those victims was also abused by Roy’s son, Darren. The effect this abuse has had on the victims’ adult lives should not be underestimated.

“Hopefully this conviction will send out a strong message that no matter the passage of time, police will conduct a thorough investigation and make every effort to bring perpetrators to justice.”