Jeffrey Donaldson: Former DUP leader sentenced to 15 years for child sex abuse convictions

Jeffrey Donaldson, pictured here during the trial, was convicted in June

Jeffrey Donaldson has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for a series of child sex offences, including one count of rape.

The former DUP leader stood with his hands clasped in front of him in the dock of Newry Crown Court as his sentence was handed down.

Judge Paul Ramsey said Donaldson's crimes, which took place between 1985 and 2008, had led to a "catastrophic descent into disgrace".

He was sentenced to 11 years for his crimes against Victim B and four years for offences against Victim A.

The 63-year-old, who was convicted in June, is seeking to appeal his convictions.

Both sentences will run consecutively.

But Donaldson will spend only half his 15-year sentence behind bars.

Because the offences were committed before the Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2008 came into effect, he qualifies for 50% remission.

Should his attempt to appeal his convictions fail, it means he will be released from prison at the end of 2033.

The remainder of his sentence will be under supervision in the community on licence.

Donaldson was taken back to Maghaberry Prison to serve his sentence

Donaldson will also be required to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.

The former Lagan Valley MP has been in Maghaberry Prison since then and returned to it on Thursday afternoon after being sentenced.

Donaldson spends up to 18 hours a day in his cell at the prison, which holds around 1,600 inmates.

Since being convicted, he has been held in its Moyola Unit, a part of the jail used for prisoners with health care needs, and does not share a cell.

It is thought he is in this unit for his own safety from risk of attack or verbal abuse from other prisoners.

The sentencing of Jeffrey Donaldson

Judge Ramsey said aggravating features include the length and protracted nature of the offending spanning many years.

He also took into account the youth of the victims and the age difference between them and Donaldson, adding that he could not accept Donaldson's lack of other convictions as a mitigating factor.

The judge said by contesting a case, a defendant avoids the reduction in sentence they would have got if they had pleaded guilty.

"It is highly significant that the defendant denied the offences to the police, he denied them in evidence and to the probation officer he continues to maintain his denials," the judge said.

"He has doubled-down in his denials.

"There has not been, and doubtless will not be, one word of regret, apology or shame from this man to at least provide his victims with some crumb of comfort."

The former DUP leader stood with his hands clasped in front of him in the dock of Newry Crown Court as his sentence was handed down

Jeffrey Donaldson's wife, Eleanor Donaldson, had faced a trial of the facts on mental health grounds, meaning the jury was asked to find out if she did the acts or did not do the acts of which she was accused.

The jury found that she had done the acts in relation to five charges – including four counts of aiding and abetting her husband's offending.

WATCH: BBC Spotlight looks at Jeffrey Donaldson's double life in Politician, Predator and Paedophile

She has applied to appeal the verdict.

She cannot be given a prison sentence but could be given a treatment order or an absolute discharge.

The judge is due to decide on this at a later date.

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Statements from both victims were released after the sentencing and read out by Det Ch Insp Leah Crothers.

Victim A said the impact of the crimes committed against her did not end when the abuse ended.

"For years I carried shame, anger and guilt, and questioned whether I was worth protecting or worthy of being loved.

"The last few years have been nothing short of a battle.

"The conviction does not erase the abuse or undo the impact of what happened to me, and I will always carry the consequences of it.

"But those responsible do not control me now. They forever changed me, but they will not take my future. The cycle is being broken and it ends with me."

Victim B said what happened to her as a child had "affected everything since then".

"What would it be like not to be afraid at night, not to wake up shaking, not to have nightmares and not to lock away every feeling I have?