A MAN has been jailed after a police investigation into historic sexual abuse that dated back to the 1970s.

Kevin Friend, 60 of Weston Road, Evesham, Worcestershire, was sentenced to nine years behind bars when he appeared at Guildford Crown Court recently.

The offences were reported to police when three different victims came forward 10 years later.

One of the victims said in her impact statement: “This stopped me moving forwards and I have lived in limbo until now.

“I’m just hoping that after this case is finished I can actually finally put this to bed.

“I’ve just moved on now I am the age that I am and I’ve learnt to live with what happened.”

Friend was convicted of two counts of indecent assault against two victims, which occurred when they were under 16, a sexual assault on an adult and a multiple count of indecent assault following an earlier hearing on 26 July. He was found not guilty of a further seven counts of indecent assault.

Friend targeted one of his victims, who was aged 14 at the time, between 1977 and 1979 with indecent assaults taking place in Chertsey. He was convicted of an indecent assault charge and a multiple count of indecent assault in relation to offences against the first victim.

Friend was convicted of indecently assaulting his second victim, who was aged 10 at the time, in Camberley between 1987 and 1990.

He was further convicted of sexually assaulting his third victim (a 22-year-old woman) in Evesham, Worcestershire, between 2004 and 2005.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Sharron Goodchild said: “I would like to praise the victims for having the courage to speak out and ensure Friend was brought to justice for these heinous crimes.

“We would not be where we are today without the resilience and bravery of the victims during our investigation. I hope that Friend being found guilty, as well as the sentence imposed today, will allow them to put this behind them and finally move on with their lives. I also hope that this will encourage others in a similar position to come forward and report it to us – we will always carry out a full investigation, no matter how long ago the offences were committed.”

If you have been a victim of sexual assault westmercia.police.uk has information and advice on where to get support.