DETECTIVES from PSNI’s Public Protection Branch have welcomed the sentence handed down to a man convicted of historical sexual offences. 

The 54-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, received a sentence of 15 years at Newry Crown Court today (Thursday 28th November) following a trial.

He was found guilty of 10 counts of rape, six counts of indecent assault, four counts of gross indecency and one count of perverting the course of justice.

Half of his sentence will be served in custody while the remainder is to be served on licence.

He has been placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life, and will be subject to a 10-year Sexual Offences Prevention Order upon his release. 

Welcoming the sentence, Detective Inspector Judith Hamill said: “I want to thank the victim for her tremendous courage in contacting us in 2017 about her abuse, which started when she was a young girl in the eighties, and which continued through to the nineties.

“To see something like this through the criminal justice process has taken immense bravery.

“The abuse the victim suffered was horrendous, and her abuser committed a despicable breach of trust, and nothing will ever compensate the victim for that. 

“Officers in PSNI Public Protection Branch are committed to investigating all reports of sexual offences against children and young people.

“We will seek to place offenders before the courts so they can be made amenable for their crimes.

“We have specially trained officers who will treat you with sensitivity and respect and I want to take this opportunity to continue to encourage anyone who has experienced any form of  sexual abuse to contact us on 101.”