Pervert’s abuse left me unable to trust any men
victed following a 10-day trial, but still maintains his innocence.
But Judge Elizabeth Nicholls said the girls were “vindicated” and Darby “discredited” after he was found guilty of nine sexual offences.
Jailing him on Friday ( July 14), she said: “All of this was conducted under the veneer of respectability.
“You were regarded as a pillar of the community and a man involved in the church and community projects.
“Your defence throughout this trial was particularly unattractive. You sought to discredit all the witnesses.
“You suggested this was a witch hunt against you pursued by an over-zealous police officer.
“What the trial has demonstrated is you have absolutely no remorse for your conduct.
“Nor do you have a willingness or ability to accept the harm you have caused both to your immediate victims and also to those close to you.”
Darby was cleared of abusing a fourth girl and downloading indecent images of children.
Neil Gunn, defending, urged the judge to hand the businessman a suspended sentence.
He said: “The defendant maintains his innocence. He has found it difficult to accept the jury’s verdict.
“It’s been particularly difficult not just for him, but more so he would say for his family to accept.”
Mr Gunn said he was of previous good character and his “exemplary conduct” included extensive charity work.
He said Darby was not a “broken man”, but added: “Life for Robert Darby will never be the same. He has almost hit rock bottom.”
Judge Nicholls said Darby often carried out his crimes in a way so there “could be some form of plausible explanation”.
The judge said: “It is the collective impact of your offending over a period of years that demands an immediate term of imprisonment.”
Darby stared at some of his sob- bing victims as he was sent down, before waving at his crying family sitting in the public gallery.
Judge Nicholls told him to sign on the Sex Offenders Register and comply with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for seven years.