Man who sexually abused girl 40 years ago jailed

A "predatory" man who committed a series of sexual offences against a young girl more than 40 years ago has been jailed.

Jeffrey Fisher started assaulting the victim while she was a child in around 1981 and continued the abuse into her teens while living in the Wakefield district of West Yorkshire, police said.

After the victim came forward the 64-year-old was traced to an address in Lancashire and arrested.

Fisher, of Kincraig Road, Blackpool, was found guilty of sexual offences including rape and sentenced to 12 years in prison at Leeds Crown Court on Monday.

He was also ordered to sign the sex offenders' register and was made subject to a lifetime sexual harm prevention order.

Speaking after the sentencing hearing, Det Khi Smith, on behalf of the Wakefield District Safeguarding Unit, said: "I'd like to thank the victim for coming forward and providing an account of her abuse at the hands of Fisher.

"It wasn't easy for her having to endure a lengthy court process but she showed courage and resilience in giving evidence against him after all these years.

"It is because of this bravery that we have been able to secure justice."

Following the trial in December, Fisher was convicted of two counts of indecent assault of a girl under 14 between 1981 and 1982, indecent assault of a girl under 16 between 1982 and 1984 and one count of rape of a female aged over 16 against a teenage girl in 1984.

Smith added: "Fisher's predatory actions make him a risk to children and I'm pleased that he is now behind bars for the harm he has caused."

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