Man Guilty Of Historic Sex Abuse

16 March 2011, 12:31 | Updated: 16 March 2011, 13:42

An Essex man, who was ten when he abused a child for the first time, has been found guilty of historic sex offences at Basildon crown Court.

Ian Price, who is 49, is already serving time for sexual grooming and other sex crimes.

He has now been sentenced to 11 years for 13 sex abuse offences which took place on Canvey Island between August 1971 and September 1984.

Price had previously admitted two counts of indecent assault on a female and one count of sexual intercourse with a girl under the age of 13.

But he had denied a further 19 counts of abuse, including rape, attempted rape and indecent assault.

Dc Paul Alabaster, investigating officer, said: "The two victims have stated that they would never forgive or forget the habitual sexual abuse that they suffered at the hands of Price and were extremely pleased that the jury accepted their version of events.

"I hope that they can now finally put this matter behind them and all move on. Historic child abuse is always difficult to investigate and this case was even more so as these offences were over 30 years old."

District Crown Prosecutor, Michelle Brown said: "We are pleased with today’s conviction and sentence and hope it provides the victims with some form of closure so they can put this horrendous ordeal behind them. We want to take this opportunity to thank the witnesses for coming forward and assisting with the prosecution.

Price is already serving an indeterminable sentence for attempting to meet a child after sexual grooming, attempting to incite a person aged 14 to engage in sexual activity and attempting to cause a person aged 14 to watch a sexual act.