Paedophile jailed for sex crimes

A paedophile who raped and sexually assaulted women and girls for more than 40 years used his victims' religious beliefs as Jehovah's Witnesses to keep his crimes a secret.

George Cockerill, 78, was jailed indefinitely after admitting 19 rapes, four counts of sexual activity with a child, six counts of indecency with a child, one sex assault and two counts of indecency with a child.

Hull Crown Court was told he'd made one victim pray following an assault while another tried to get help from elders, to no avail.

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Sentencing, Judge Roger Thorn QC said Cockerill he was a terrible hypocrite who had caused "untold misery" by using religion to control his victims, adding: "As one victim said you have stolen her childhood.

Cockerill, of Hull, was sentenced to imprisonment for public protection for a minimum of six years and will not be released until the Parole Board believes he is no longer a danger.

Steven Garth, mitigating, said: "He is desperately sorry for what he has done."

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