Former Coach Jailed - Leigh-on-Sea

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Leigh On Sea News: Former Coach Jailed – “THANK you for trusting us with your story and trusting us to get you justice.”

Former Coach Jailed - “THANK you for trusting us with your story and trusting us to get you justice.”

“THANK you for trusting us with your story and trusting us to get you justice.”

That’s from the specialist detectives whose work has helped ensure a former football coach, who abused boys, five decades ago has been jailed for more than seven years.

Derek Hinchliffe worked at Southend United at the time of the offences in the 1970s.

Specialist detectives from the Police’s Quest team – who investigate non-recent child sexual offences – took on the investigation in May 2017. They established he had sexual abused four boys over a period of several years. Their meticulous investigation led by Detective Sergeant Shirley Cole, to Hinchliffe being charged with 11 counts of indecent assault.

The now 82 year-old, of Ingfield Avenue, Ossett, West Yorkshire, was unanimously convicted on 6 February this year following a 14 day trial at Basildon Crown Court.

At the same court on March 28 he was sentenced to a total of seven years and seven months in prison.

DS Cole said: “I want to pay tribute to the bravery demonstrated by the survivors in this case in coming forward and telling us what happened to them.

“Thank you for trusting us with your story and trusting us to get you justice.

“Derek Hinchliffe was a prolific offender and preyed upon young boys for his own sexual gratification.

“He will now spend the foreseeable future behind bars and I hope the survivors are able to use this sentence to move forward.

“This case shows it is never too late to get justice, even if the offences took place decades ago. If you report a crime you will be listened to and supported, and we will investigate.”

Support is there for anyone affected by rape and sexual abuse, and no victim or survivor is alone. Synergy Essex provides specialist support for victims and survivors of rape and sexual abuse of all ages and all genders across Essex, Thurrock and Southend.

Synergy Essex is a partnership of rape and sexual abuse centres in Essex: CARA (Centre for Action on Rape and Abuse), SERICC Rape and Sexual Abuse Specialist Service and Southend Rape Crisis (SOS Rape Crisis). Synergy Essex is independent from the police and provides support for victims and survivors throughout their journey.

Victims and survivors can self-refer, or be referred by a parent, partner, friend or professional and can access specialist emotional support, counselling and advocacy. For victims and survivors who report to the police, Synergy Essex provides an Independent Sexual Violence Adviser (ISVA) service, providing support throughout the criminal justice process.

For more information visit the Synergy Essex website: https://synergyessex.org.uk.

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