Pedophile John Reid jailed for 12 years

A PEDOPHILE has been jailed for 12 ½ years for sex offences against five children.

John William Reid, of East Doncaster in Victoria, was found guilty of more than 28 offences involving four girls and one boy aged between eight and 17.

In the Victorian County Court today, the 66-year-old was sentenced to 12 years and six months' jail for the offences that took place between 1990 and 1997 at his business and home.

Judge John Barnett sentenced him to a minimum term of eight years and placed him on the serious sex offenders' list.

A jury previously found Reid guilty of charges including rape, indecent assault of a child under 16, and sexual penetration of a child under 16.

The court was told Reid denied committing the offences and a doctor had diagnosed him as suffering bipolar affective disorder.