A VICTIM and the police have spoken out after a man was sentenced to 18 years in prison for committing more than 30 serious sex offences.
The 58-year-old man, the stepfather of the four victims, was convicted following a two week trial. The offences were committed between 1974 and 1984 when the victims were then aged between four and 17-years-old.
Three of the victims were girls and one was a boy.
Just prior to the trial the man entered guilty pleas to four additional counts of indecent assault in relation to the same victims.
The man was sentenced yesterday.
The court heard that the victims had been subjected to years of serious sexual abuse as well as physical violence, threats and intimidation.
The defendant used threats of them being harmed, threats of their mother being harmed or shot and the use of violence and pain as a means of preventing the victims from disclosing their abuse.
The victims felt they had nowhere to hide from this man who was described as a "tyrant".
In sentencing the defendant, Deemster David Turner, QC, described it as a "horrifying case" and told the defendant he had "murdered the childhood" of the victims.
One of the victims, speaking on behalf of them all, said: "After all these years it has been such a relief that our complaints were believed after our childhood was taken away from us.
"For many years it has been a heavy burden for each of us to carry; that we were sexually abused. We are all very pleased with the result and we can now close that chapter and can move on with our lives."
Detective Inspector Phil Shimmin said: "In all of my 24 years experience, this is undoubtedly the worst case of horrific and sustained sexual abuse upon children I have ever seen, and the sentence imposed reflects this.
"The level of violence, humiliation and degradation inflicted by the defendant shows him to be an evil man who used extreme sexual, physical and emotional violence to exert control over his victims for his own sexual gratification.
"Each victim has stood up in court and recounted the abuse they suffered and the threats they were subjected to, in order to ensure their compliance and silence.
"The victims in this case have suffered the effects of their abuse for years, and it has had a significant and profound impact upon their lives.
"Only recently did they feel able to tell the police what had happened to them when they were children. It takes an enormous amount of bravery to relive such trauma from years ago and I pay tribute to them for their extraordinary courage in coming forward and giving evidence at trial.
"I hope that the conviction and sentencing of their abuser will assist them in moving on with their lives.
"Dealing with details of such extreme and sustained abuse is traumatic for all involved and I wish to thank all of my investigation team for the professional way in which the investigation was conducted, in particular the lead investigator DC Lesley Taylor who deserves enormous credit for her diligence and for ensuring that the welfare of the victims was paramount throughout the investigation and trial.
"I also wish to thank Victim Support Isle of Man and their Witness Service for the support and care shown to the victims throughout. In addition, I would like to thank Mr Mark Benson of the Attorney General’s Chambers for his skilled advocacy during the trial.
"This is also another example of how professionally the police treat all allegations of sexual assault, including historic sexual abuse.
"Should any person wish to come forward to make a complaint, or simply obtain some advice they can contact the Public Protection Unit Investigation Team at Police Headquarters on 631212. Should they not wish to involve the police they can contact Victim Support on 679950 for advice and support."
The 58-year-old man has not been named in order to prevent the victims in this case from being indentified.
