Former Children's Home Worker May Have Abused In Essex

29 November 2014, 06:26 | Updated: 29 November 2014, 06:28

There are fears a former children's home worker, jailed this week for historic sex abuse, may have abused children in Essex.

72-year-old  John Cowan was sentenced to eight years in prison for child abuse committed in the 1970s.

He was found guilty of sexually abusing six children at a care home in Ealing.

During the trail it was revealed he worked at several children's homes in Essex, London and Scotland from the 1970s onward.

Detective Constable Cathy Hewitson said Mr Cowan "took advantage of his senior position at the home to abuse a number of vulnerable children.

 "It is highly likely there are other victims out there who perhaps have felt too scared to come forward before or thought there was little point given the passage of time."

It is known Mr Cowan previously lived and worked in and around Chelmsford in the early 1970s.

The jury heard he had 24 previous convictions for sexual offences against children.

He was jailed for 12-and-a-half years in 1994 on 16 counts and is on the Sex Offenders' Register for life.