An 89-year-old pensioner has been convicted of child sex abuse, with a jury finding that he assaulted four children over 30 years after a three-week trial.
Oliver Dunkin, prosecuting, told the jury at Lewes Crown Court, that Alan Ashton, of Rusper Road, Horsham, faced 17 charges that dated back 50 years – to 1976.
Mr Dunkin said that Ashton continued offending into his seventies, with the most recent offences having happened in 2010. Ashton denied the charges.
He said that Ashton knew the children he abused and the offences came to light when one of his victims, now an adult, reported what had happened to police.
Some of the girls were as young as four years old when the abuse started while one of convictions was for indecency with a 14-year-old.
Most of the abuse took place when the children were under 13, Mr Dunkin told the jury. The girls were usually still at primary school.
The jury acquitted Ashton of five charges of sexually abusing children under 13.
Detective Constable Kirstie Prentice said: “We commend the bravery of all of Ashton’s victims in coming forward and ensuring justice is done.
“No matter how long ago offences took place, rest assured we will always work hard to ensure the perpetrator is brought to account.
“Ashton will most likely spend the rest of his life behind bars which hopefully will be of some comfort to the victims he abused across three decades.
“If you have experienced this sort of crime, no matter how long ago, please report to us and be confident we will listen and support you.”
Judge Mark Van Der Zwart, the trial judge, remanded Ashton in custody until Thursday 26 November when he is due to be sentenced.
