Dereham man jailed for 18 years for child sex offences
He abused two children in the late-1980s and 1990s
A man from Dereham has been jailed for 18 years after being found guilty of multiple sexual offences against children.
Keith Gilding, 72, of Dale Road, was found guilty of 14 offences, including eight counts of indecent assault, two counts of rape, two counts of buggery and two counts of sexual intercourse with a child under 13 years old.
He was sentenced at Norwich Crown Court and will spend a year out on licence after his release.
He was also made the subject of an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
Gilding abused two children in the late-1980s and 1990s.
One of the victims was repeatedly abused in their teens, while the other was attacked while they were still a young child.
One of the victims came forward to police on June 2020, with Gilding being arrested the following month.
Giving evidence both victims talked about the lasting impact of the abuse, with both suffering flashbacks.
DC Emma Beck said: “The sentence will hopefully go some way to seeking justice for his victims. As an adult, Gilding was in a position of trust which he abused.
“These crimes had a lasting impact on the victims, their relationships and quality of their lives. We would encourage anyone who has been a victim of sexual abuse to report or seek help.”