Twisted DJ and his adopted sister girlfriend jailed for grooming and raping multiple teenage girls

Darren Gibson, 54, and Rebecca Kirton, 39, both of Leeds, were both described as 'calculated sexual predators' who preyed on young victims over a number of years

A DJ and his adopted sister girlfriend have been jailed for a total of 36 years after they groomed and raped multiple teenage victims.

Darren Gibson, 54, used his position between 2002 and 2008 to prey on his young victims alongside Rebecca Kirton, 39, who he was in a relationship with. Leeds Crown Court heard how he had met two of the teens at music venues, while a third was groomed over a longer period and sexually assaulted by the pair.

Gibson was found guilty of indecent assault, rape, assault by penetration and causing or inciting a child into sexual activity - and jailed for 24 years. Kirton was found guilty of assault by penetration, rape and causing or inciting a child into sexual activity - and sentenced to 12 years in prison.

Following their hearing on October 18, Detective Inspector Stephen King of West Yorkshire Police called the couple “calculated sexual predators”. He said: “I’m pleased that in handing down these sentences, the court has recognised the gravity of Gibson and Kirton’s offending.

“They are calculated sexual predators who carried out serious harm to young girls over a significant period of time. I would like to thank the victims in this case for their courage and bravery in coming forward. They have had to wait a long time to see justice finally being done and I hope today’s outcome will bring some comfort to them.”

The Court heard how two of Gibson's victims were in their early teens when he raped them in 2004 - with both attending separate discos at venues in Leeds, West Yorkshire. He exchanged numbers with one of the girls and arranged for her to go to his house the next day.

She and a friend went to the property where Gibson, assisted by Kirton, plied them with drink. After the friend was put to bed by Kirton as she was ill, Gibson then went on to rape and sexually assault the victim. The second victim went up to Gibson to request a song while he was working as a DJ, but as she was leaving the stage he sexually assaulted her. The victim ran home immediately and reported the incident to police.

The court heard how the third victim was groomed over a longer period ranging from her pre-teens to her mid-teens. During this time, she was raped and sexually assaulted with Kirton joining in with some of the sexual activity. Gibson, of Leeds, was found guilty of 19 offences after a trial in September. This included six counts of indecent assault, five counts of rape, five of assault by penetration, two of causing or inciting a child into sexual activity and one of sexual assault.

Kirton, also of Leeds, was found guilty at trial of two counts of assault by penetration, one of rape and one of causing or inciting a child into sexual activity. Following their sentencing hearing, both were ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for life and issued with lifetime Sexual Harm Prevention Orders.

Detective Inspector Stephen King urged other victims of sexual assault and rape to come forward after the pair were sent to prison. He said: “West Yorkshire Police has experience in investigating recent and non-recent sexual offences, we have dedicated teams across the Force who are committed to investigating these offences and I would urge anyone who has been a victim of this kind of offending to come forward and report it to us. You will be believed, you will be safeguarded and it will be investigated.”