An 82-year-old Skipton man has been jailed for multiple sexual offences against children.
Herning Thompson, of Victoria Street, was arrested in January 2024 after the offences were reported to North Yorkshire Police.
Police said the offences took place over a period spanning four decades between 1981 and 2020.
The victims were aged between five and 12 at the time of the incidents.
Following an investigation led by the Harrogate and Craven Safeguarding Investigation Team, Thompson was charged and later stood trial at Leeds Crown Court.
A jury found him guilty of six counts of indecent assault on a girl under 16, four counts of assaulting a girl under 13 by touching, four counts of assaulting a girl under 13 by penetration with a part of the body or an object, and two counts of attempted rape of a girl under 13.
He was found not guilty of three counts of assaulting a girl under 13 by touching and one count of assaulting a boy under 13 by touching.
At a sentencing hearing on 11 March, a judge ordered Thompson to serve an 18-year prison sentence.
The sentence includes a 12-month extended licence period after his release.
He was also made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for life.
In a victim impact statement read to the court, one of the victims described the long-term effect the abuse had on her life.
“Although many years have passed, the trauma of what happened has never left me.
“I continue to experience distressing memories and emotional pain linked to what happened.”
She also explained that the impact had continued long after the incidents ended.
“The impact of the abuse did not end when the incidents stopped, but has continued for decades, affecting my ability to live without fear and anxiety.”
Nicky Wareham, who led the investigation, said the victims had shown significant courage in coming forward.
“This case has been harrowing for everyone involved, and I want to pay tribute to the extraordinary bravery of the victims.
“Despite the trauma Thompson inflicted, and his attempts to deny his actions and force them through the ordeal of a trial, they stood firm and found the courage to speak out.”
She added that the investigation demonstrated the police commitment to pursuing reports of abuse regardless of how long ago they occurred.
“We will always treat reports of child sexual abuse with the utmost seriousness, no matter when they happened, and we remain unwavering in our commitment to protecting vulnerable children and relentlessly pursuing those who cause them harm."
Police say anyone who has experienced sexual assault or abuse can report it to them at any time, even if the incident happened many years ago.
They also advise that support organisations are available for those who may not wish to speak to police directly.
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