Jeffrey Donaldson, a former leader of Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), could face more than 10 years in prison after being found guilty of sexually abusing two women when they were children, a court heard. Donaldson, who led the DUP from 2021 to 2024, was convicted of 18 counts of sexual abuse, including one of rape, in June. During a pre-sentencing hearing at Newry courthouse, barrister Rosemary Walsh KC described the profound emotional impact of the abuse on the victims. One of the complainants, referred to as Complainant B, spoke of how the abuse had affected every day of her life, causing her deep distress and even leading her to express a wish to die. She said she struggled to understand love and trust because of the trauma she endured as a child. The second victim, Complainant A, described how the abuse had "stolen" her childhood and left her with feelings of shame and anger. She said the abuse had affected her sleep and overall sense of wellbeing, and she still felt emotionally drained from the experience. Walsh noted that some of the charges carried maximum sentences of two years, while others, under older laws, could have resulted in sentences of up to 14 years. She emphasized that the age difference between Donaldson and his victims should be considered an aggravating factor, as historical legislation did not always distinguish between adult and child victims. Complainant B was as young as seven or eight when the abuse occurred, while Donaldson was in his early 20s. Donaldson, 63, remained silent during the 70-minute hearing and is expected to appeal the conviction. His barrister, Kieran Vaughan KC, asked the court to consider mitigating factors, such as Donaldson’s age and his previous good character. Vaughan also noted that there had been no similar offenses in the past 18 years and that Donaldson had achieved significant accomplishments during that time, which he argued had been "obliterated" by the conviction. Meanwhile, Donaldson’s wife, Eleanor, has appealed against the court’s decision that she committed acts related to five of the charges he faced. She was found unfit to stand trial due to mental health issues, so the jury was asked to determine whether she had committed the alleged acts. While she cannot be jailed, she is appealing to overturn the court’s findings. Donaldson is expected to be sentenced next month. The case has drawn significant public attention in Northern Ireland, given his former political prominence. The court will now weigh the severity of the crimes, the impact on the victims, and any mitigating factors before determining an appropriate sentence.