Peterborough Man Jailed 35 Years On

1 October 2010, 06:00

A pensioner from Greater Peterborough, who abused a young boy in the 1970s, has just been jailed.

73 year old Neville Baxter, of West Street, Helpston near Peterborough, abused the boy between 1972 and 1975 at an address nearby.

The victim was aged between seven and 10 years old at the time.

Peterborough Crown Court heard that the offences weren't reported at the time, and it had taken the victim 25 years to gather enough courage to tell his family.

Police then found out about the crimes in December last year and began a prosecution case.

After pleading guilty to four counts of indecent assault and two counts of indecency with a child, Baxter has now been sentenced to 18 months in jail and placed on the sex offenders' register for 10 years.

He is also now the subject of an indefinite sexual offences prevention order which prohibits him from any unsupervised contact with young people under 16 years of age.

DC Stu Taylor, from the force's child abuse investigation unit, said: "This case proves that justice can and should be done, even if a crime took place several decades ago, and I would like to praise the victim for having the bravery to come forward.

The sentence given today shows how seriously this type of crime is regarded by the courts and I hope other victims of sexual offences, no matter how long ago they took place, are encouraged to come forward as a result."

In police interview Baxter said he had been sexually abused as a child in the late 1930s. He and his family moved to Peterborough in the 1940s.

The court heard he was married but had no children at the time the abuse took place. He would take the victim out in his car but then stop and sexually assault him.

Baxter admitted carrying out the assaults for sexual gratification but said he knew it was wrong and felt guilt over his actions.