It should perhaps be borne in mind that I think his victims were mostly 16 or over, so if they had been female, they could validly have consented to sexual activity.

You say "mostly" But do you accept that the offences he was charged with were the only ones this predatory pedeophile actually committed up until his trial? If so he would be a strange if not a unique case.

There are cases where a jury having aquitted on these charges - have to then sit with horror - listening to a long list of previous convictions.