A paedophile from St Albans has been jailed for 15 years after being found guilty of historic sexual offences.

Anthony Dear, also known as 'Danny', was sentenced to 15 years in custody, plus a further three years on licence, after being found guilty of 23 counts of rape and sexual assault.

The offences were against one female victim, who was repeatedly assaulted by Dear over a four-year period when she was aged between 11 and 15.

Jailing Dear at St Albans Crown Court, the judge said: "The impact on the victim can never be underestimated. You took away her childhood. You’re just a perpetrator of sexual violence and a paedophile."

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The 80-year-old was previously jailed for six-and-a-half years in January 2022 after sexual offences against another victim, having been found guilty of five counts of sexual activity with a child.

The latest sentence will run consecutively, with Detective Sergeant Larissa Nightingale, who led the investigation, saying: "I’d like to commend the victim once again for the bravery and resilience she has shown throughout the investigation and trial. I hope this sentence will give her some sense of justice and closure.

"Dear is a danger to children and I am pleased that his time behind bars has been significantly extended.

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"I hope this case reassures people that we take all reports of sexual assault seriously, no matter how long ago the offence occurred.

"We have specially trained officers on hand to provide support and guidance and will always do whatever we can to gather the necessary evidence to build the strongest case possible.

"I would encourage any other victims to come forward, if they feel ready to. We will listen."