An acting coach was jailed for 16 years today for raping and sexually assaulting aspiring actresses as young as 15 who attended his theatre group.
Christopher Lynch, 38, sexually abused a number of young girls between 2013 and 2017 and was convicted of 11 sexual offences.
He was given the jail term today as part of an extended sentence by a judge who branded him 'dangerous and predatory.'
Sentencing Lynch at Northampton Crown Court, Judge Rebecca Crane said he was 'a dangerous and predatory male who exploited his position and the theatrical ambitions of the young victims for his own personal gain.'
She added: 'The significant effect of his actions continues to this day, impacting on their relationships, mental health and daily lives.'
Acting coach Christopher Lynch, 38, was found guilty of 11 sexual offences including rape against girls as young as 15
Outside court Detective Constable Laura Mannion, from the Force's Child Protection Team, said: 'I am pleased with this sentence which reflects the severity of the abuse Lynch carried out over a number of years.
'He deviously put himself into a position of trust to carry out his crimes, taking advantage of his victim's aspirations to become actresses.
'He sexually abused them and then tried to cover his tracks and deny what he had done to all that knew him when the police investigation commenced.
'He continued to lie in court as he took the stand to try to convince the jury he was innocent.
'By doing this he subjected the victims to further trauma, making them give evidence and re-live what he had done to them years earlier.'
Lynch was jailed for 16 years, and the judge told him he will serve at least two-thirds of his sentence.
