Pensioner extradited from Australia jailed for historic child sex offences in the 1980s and 1990s

David Wilson, 78, fled over 9,000 miles, changing names and identities in a bid to avoid justice after failing to appear at Grimsby Crown Court in 1995 charged with indecent assault against two women, who were under 14 at the time.

Seven years ago two men, who had been abused by Wilson, when they were less than 14-years-old, came forward to police, providing new lines of enquiry.

Detectives discovered Wilson, formerly of Grimsby, had held a number of passports and driving licenses in Australia and New Zealand under different names and dates of birth.

In July officers flew to Australia to bring Wilson back to stand trial.

Prosecutors said the “dangerous sexual predator” had ingratiated himself with the children and their families to gain their trust before sexually assaulting his victims.

Wilson, of Yaru Street, Queensland, was sentenced on Monday at Grimsby Crown Court after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing to two counts of indecent assault, four counts of indecent assault on a male person and two counts of indecency with a child.

Detective Constable Nichola Oakley, who has been leading the enquiry since 2013, said: “Firstly, I would like to applaud the bravery and strength of the four victims for disclosing what had happened to them and working with us on what I know has been a long road to justice.

“The sentence reflects the serious nature of the abuse by a person in a position of trust and reinforces that the passage of time does not reduce the impact or severity of the crime.”

Senior crown prosecutor Paul Brown said Wilson’s victims had suffered “life-long consequences whilst their abuser was living a new life on the other side of the world”.

He said he hoped the seven-year jail sentence would offer some comfort to his victims.