BRTISH expat and fugitive paedophile David Spencer Hill – who went on the run and and settled in the town in plain sight for six years – has finally been jailed back in the UK.

Hill in one of the Didim Glee Club’s performances

Yesterday (Wednesday June 27), David Spencer Hill was jailed for more than six years for non-recent sexual offences back in the UK after he was extradited from Turkey.

Hill fled to the country prior to his trial at Bristol Crown Court in 2012. Considered a pillar of the community, he lived comfortably in Didim and was an active member of Didim Glee Club and the Didim Art Group. He was also known to have gotten close to a number of expats during his time in the area.

The 75-year-old had admitted three counts of indecent assault but was then found guilty of a further three counts of the same offence along with three counts of gross indecency after the trial was held in his absence.

The convictions relate to the assault of a boy during the 1980s.

Avon and Somerset Police said: “We worked closely with the Crown Prosecution Service and the National Crime Agency after he left the country and a European Convention Request was subsequently issued.”

Hill was eventually located in the Aydın province of Turkey in September 2016 and arrested by the Turkish authorities.

Avon and Somerset officers collected Hill from Turkey this week following the conclusion of the extradition process.

He then appeared at Bristol Crown Court yesterday (27/6) where a judge confirmed his sentence and ordered him to serve an additional three months for failing to attend his 2012 court hearing.

Detective Constable Nick Riley said: “Hill’s victim has been waiting six years for him to serve justice and knowing he is now behind bars will, I’m sure, finally provide him with some closure.

“We will pursue criminals no matter where they are in the world and this should act as a warning to anyone who thinks they can evade justice by fleeing the country.”

Hill was described by expats as a ‘charming, cultured and considered pillar of the community”. But it was Voices that finally exposed him when he was arrested in late-2016.

Hill, who is largely known as David Spence, has lived in Didim for more than five years and was an active member of Didim Glee Club and the Didim Art Group.

But that came to a sudden and dramatic end when he was detained by Turkish police officers at his rented Second Beach apartment on Friday September 23. He was taken before Didim Court and remained in Soke Prison.

Voices Newspaper tracked down a solicitor representing him and despite refusing to disclose the full reasons, we understand it is in relation to a matter relating back in the UK.

The expat community was left mystified by his arrest – only open to speculation and gossip – as to why the charming, affable and softly-spoken Mr Hill. That was until Voices discovered the truth.

This is what Voices discovered in the run-up to his arrest and subsequent detainment in Soke Prison:

Mid-September 2016: A British expat, accompanied by Mr Hill left Didim to go to Paros, a Greek island close to Samos, to pick up a boat and bring it back to Turkey. They arrived safely back and no issues were encountered at Greek and Turkish customs.

Thursday September 22: A day before his arrest, Mr Hill attends Didim Glee Club’s rehearsal meeting at Sobe Bar, and as their scene creator to prepare for the club’s pantomime, Aladdin, later in the year. The meeting passed uneventfully.

Friday September 23: Mr Hill is detained at his rented accommodation and is eventually transferred to Soke Prison.

Monday September 26-28: Information about his predicament begins to circulate in the British expat community.

Thursday September 29: A statement is read out to members of the Didim Glee Club, in relation to Mr Hill’s situation, that he was unlikely to be attending in the foreseeable future.

Monday October 3: A power of attorney is put into process for a solicitor to represent Mr Hill through the court process in Turkey. The solicitor, speaking to Voices, declines to offer any information other than: “The British government want him.”

Thursday October 5: Mr Hill remains in custody at Soke Prison.

20 months later he is extradited back to the UK for sentence.