A 68-year-old man from the wirral was sentenced to 17 years in prison yesterday at Liverpool Crown Court after being found guilty of a number of historical sex offences.
Robert Barry Croxford from Hoylake, Wirral was found guilty on 9 December of two counts of rape of a girl under 16, and 11 counts of indecent assault on a girl under the age of 16 in the 1970s following a trial earlier this month at Liverpool Crown Court. The offences relate to two female victims.
As well as being sentenced to 17 years in prison he was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.
Detective Constable Loretta Dean said: “Croxford is starting a long prison sentence after a jury found him guilty of a number of offences carried out over a number of years in the 1970s in the Wirral area.
“Croxford’s victims have shown an immense amount of bravery in coming forward and I hope his sentencing today gives them some sense of closure and justice. Their adult life has been deeply affected by these crimes and they have shown immense courage to report them.
“I would like to pay tribute to their dignity and bravery.
“Time should never be a barrier to obtaining justice and Merseyside Police takes every report of sexual offences extremely seriously, whether or not they are recent, and has dedicated officers who are trained to both thoroughly investigate sexual assault allegations and make sure that those reporting them are properly supported.
“I would like to take this opportunity to reassure and urge anyone who has suffered a sexual offence that if you can find the courage to come forward and speak to us, we will deal with you sensitively and make sure that reports are properly and thoroughly investigated.”