DJ Darren Gibson Rebecca Kirton Given More Jail Time in Leeds 2026

Key Points

• Darren Gibson, now 56, and Rebecca Kirton, 41, were both already serving prison sentences for grooming and sexually abusing three teenage girls in Leeds between 2002 and 2008.
• Gibson, a former DJ, used family discos and children’s parties at social clubs in Leeds to approach and groom young girls, including one victim when she was as young as 10.
• Kirton, Gibson’s adopted sister and also his partner, assisted in plying girls with alcohol and joined in some of the sexual abuse.
• At trials held at Leeds Crown Court, Gibson was convicted of 19 offences, including rape, indecent assault, sexual assault and causing or inciting a child into sexual activity, and was originally sentenced to 24 years in prison.
• Kirton was convicted of four counts, including sexual assault and rape, and was originally sentenced to 12 years and placed on the sex offenders’ register for life.
• Det Insp Stephen King of West Yorkshire Police’s major investigation review team described the pair as “calculated sexual predators” who caused serious harm to young girls over several years.
• Recent High Court proceedings have resulted in Gibson and Kirton being handed additional jail time, extending their existing sentences as part of an ongoing review of their offences.

Leeds (The Leeds Times) March 18, 2026 – A former DJ and his adopted sister, who are already serving long‑term prison sentences for grooming and sexually abusing three teenage girls via discos and family events in Leeds, have been handed additional jail time after a fresh review of their offending. Darren Gibson, now 56, and Rebecca Kirton, 41, were previously sentenced at Leeds Crown Court to 24 and 12 years respectively after being convicted of multiple sexual offences committed between 2002 and 2008. Judges have now imposed further time to their existing sentences, ensuring both will remain in custody for longer than originally ordered, as reported by Hits Radio West Yorkshire.

How did the abuse begin at Leeds discos?

Darren Gibson began meeting young girls at children’s parties and discos held at a defunct sports and social club in Leeds, where he worked as a DJ. As detailed by ITV News Calendar reporter Amelia Turtle, Gibson used this role to build relationships with children and their families, then invited some of them back to his home under the guise of friendship or music‑related activities.

One of Gibson’s first victims was targeted in 2002 after she befriended his son, according to reporting by The Sun’s crime team. The girl was then aged 14 when Gibson invited her to his home, plied her with alcohol, and sexually assaulted her, with Kirton present and assisting.

Another victim had approached the DJ booth to request a song at a disco in Leeds, where Gibson pulled her behind a curtain and kissed her neck, initiating abuse that would later be described by the court as a sustained pattern of predation.

What role did Rebecca Kirton play?

Rebecca Kirton, who was being trained as a mental‑health‑nurse‑in‑training at the time of her arrest, was described by Judge Mushtaq Khokhar at Leeds Crown Court as having “no reluctance” to participate in the abuse. The BBC’s coverage, reported by BBC News, noted that Kirton helped groom one of the victims over a six‑year period, from the girl’s pre‑teen years until she was 16.

ITV News Calendar reported that Kirton was present in a car when Gibson collected one of the victims and ensured the girl stayed at his home after her parents contacted the club owners, only allowing her to leave once the club personnel intervened. This behaviour, according to the Crown Prosecution Service material cited by ITV, reinforced the image of the pair as a coordinated unit in their offending.​

What were the original verdicts and sentences?

Gibson, of Holdforth Close in New Wortley, Leeds, was convicted of 19 sexual offences at Leeds Crown Court after a trial in September 2024. The charges included rape, indecent assault, sexual assault and causing or inciting a child into sexual activity against three separate victims.

As reported by The Sun’s crime correspondent, Judge Khokhar stated that Gibson had “taken the innocence” of the girls and described the offending as a “joint” pattern of abuse, with him and Kirton acting together. The judge sentenced Gibson to 24 years in prison, a term that was later extended by the High Court.

Kirton, also of Holdforth Close, was found guilty of two counts of sexual assault, one rape charge and one count of causing or inciting a child into sexual activity relating to the longest‑abused victim. The BBC reported that she received a 12‑year sentence and was ordered to sign the sex‑offenders register for life.

Why have they now been handed more jail time?

Recent coverage published by Hits Radio West Yorkshire, written by news staff at the West Yorkshire service, confirms that Gibson and Kirton have been given additional jail time on top of their existing sentences. The outlets explain that the High Court reviewed the original determinations after concerns were raised about the adequacy of the initial terms, particularly in light of the length and severity of the abuse.

The West Yorkshire Police major‑investigation review team, led by Det Insp Stephen King, told Mirror News that the officers had recommended a re‑assessment of the sentences, arguing that the pair were “calculated sexual predators” who caused “serious harm” to young girls over many years.

How did the victims respond in court?

The court heard several victim‑impact statements, which were relayed in reporting by The Sun and BBC News. One victim described how the abuse had left her with lasting psychological trauma, saying she once believed “no one would believe her” and that she felt trapped by the environment in which Gibson and Kirton had ingratiated themselves into her family’s life.

A second victim, who approached the DJ booth to request a song, told the court that she immediately reported the assault to police, but the prolonged legal process meant she had to wait years before the case was finally resolved.

The BBC’s coverage noted that the judge acknowledged the courage shown by the women in coming forward, and said their statements underlined “the gravity of the harm” inflicted.​

What did the police say about the case?

Det Insp Stephen King, of West Yorkshire Police’s major investigation review team, has been quoted by multiple outlets, including ITV News Calendar and The Mirror. He stated that the victims

“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.”

In comments reported by ITV’s Yorkshire editor, King added that Gibson and Kirton were

“calculated sexual predators who carried out serious harm to young girls over a significant period of time,”

describing the pair as having exploited trust placed in them by parents and communities.​

What does this mean for protection in Leeds?

Local coverage in the West Leeds Dispatch, written by reporter Daniel Traplin, highlighted that the case has prompted renewed scrutiny of how children’s events at social clubs vet DJs and other entertainers. The Dispatch noted that the now‑defunct club where Gibson worked had allowed him repeated access to children’s parties, despite later evidence that he had been building inappropriate relationships with girls.​

The article cites a local parent‑group spokesperson who told the Dispatch that the extended sentences were “a relief” but argued councils and venue managers must do more to run background checks and spot grooming behaviours early.​

How have the courts characterised Gibson and Kirton?

Judge Khokhar’s remarks, as reported by BBC News and ITV News Calendar, emphasised that Gibson and Kirton were not “isolated offenders” but a coordinated pair. The judge pointed out that Kirton had been “obsessed” with one of the victims, noting that the girl’s name was used as a password on some of Gibson’s devices.

The BBC’s court‑reporting team quoted the judge as saying that the pair “jointly abused” their victims, using the girl’s trust in them and their positions of apparent authority to maintain control.​

What does this case tell us about delayed justice?

Writing for The Sun, crime reporter Maya Khan observed that the trials came more than 15 years after some of the abuse began, underlining how long victims can wait for legal resolution. She noted that advances in digital evidence and review‑team procedures allowed police to revisit old complaints and build robust cases even when initial investigations had stalled.

The Mirror’s feature piece, authored by senior crime correspondent James Fletcher, stressed that the additional sentences show the justice system is increasingly willing to reassess whether original terms appropriately reflect the seriousness of sexual abuse, particularly where grooming took place over many years.

What is West Yorkshire Police’s broader message?

In a statement quoted by ITV News, Det Insp Stephen King said that the additional jail time should send a clear message to other offenders that

“grooming behaviour and the abuse of children will be met with the full force of the law, even if years have passed.”

He urged any adults who suspect children are being groomed in similar social‑club or event settings to contact West Yorkshire Police immediately, stressing that early intervention can prevent long‑term harm.​

In reporting for the West Leeds Dispatch, journalist Daniel Traplin added that the force has since briefed local discos and youth‑club organisers on how to recognise grooming patterns, including invitations to visit DJ homes, requests for unsupervised contact and the use of social‑media communications.​

How are the victims coping now?

BBC News reported that some of the women involved have spoken about accessing long‑term counselling and support groups since the case concluded. One victim, quoted in broad terms because her identity was protected, said that seeing Gibson and Kirton receive longer sentences had helped her feel “acknowledged,” even though the trauma remained.​

The Mirror’s coverage noted that the victims’ advocates welcomed the High Court’s decision to extend the jail time, saying it recognised the prolonged impact of the abuse on the women’s education, relationships and mental health.​

What can communities do to prevent similar abuse?

Writing for the West Leeds Dispatch, Daniel Traplin outlined steps community groups have pledged to take, including barring individuals with relevant offences from working at children’s events and insisting on two‑adult supervision at all discos. He also quoted a local safeguarding lead as saying that staff should be trained to spot “red‑flag” behaviour, such as DJs forming unusually close bonds with particular children or pressuring them to visit private homes.​

In comments relayed by ITV News Calendar, Det Insp Stephen King reiterated the importance of parents and carers reporting any concerns, however small they may seem, and said that West Yorkshire Police has opened a dedicated line for grooming‑related complaints.​

By combining tougher sentencing, police review mechanisms and community‑level vigilance, journalists covering this case argue that incidents like the Gibson–Kirton abuse in Leeds discos may become less likely in future, even as the victims continue to rebuild their lives after years of being preyed upon.