Yorkshire paedophile finally caged after 30 year reign of terror

A PAEDOPHILE in East Yorkshire who began committing sexual offences aged just 11 and targeted children as young as three during a three-decade reign of abuse has been jailed for 15 years.

Heating engineer James Kendrick, 63, raped and indecently assaulted several children between 1957 and 1989.

He thought he had dodged justice - but after a victim came forward two years ago police launched an

investigation.

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He denied his offences until the end - but has now been caged after a jury convicted him of 21 counts of rape and indecent assault.

Sentencing Kendrick at Hull Crown Court on Monday, Recorder Graham Hyland QC said: "This is 31 years of gross sexual conduct on innocent victims who were all very young. I am satisfied you have psychologically affected all of them.

"This was vile and wicked offending which destroyed their childhood. All the offences are grave and deserve severe punishment.

"Some of the offences were committed when you were 11 and continued on to 1989 when you were 42."

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Kendrick, of Driffield, raped and indecently assaulted a boy and three girls during the period. He raped the same four-year-old boy twice and committed three indecent assaults on him - and he indecently assaulted a six-year-old girl five times and another four-year-old girl twice.

One three-year-old female victim was raped six times and indecently assaulted on four occasions.

The victim who uncovered Kendrick's wicked abuse went to the police after seeking professional help - and police found three further victims late last year.

Det Con Penny of Humberside Police, who was commended for her work on the case by the judge, said: "One victim complained in 2008. She felt she had to do something about it.

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"These people have had horrific lives, due to what he has done. After all that, he has then put them through the ordeal of making them repeat the most horrific experiences anyone could ever imagine in open court.

"The victims have been extremely brave. Hopefully, they can now have some closure."

Det Insp Nigel Sawyer added: "Some of the most repulsive and vile acts of sexual assault were committed against children by this man.

"I would sincerely like to praise each and every one of the victims for reporting their offences."