Hastings man jailed for child sex offences

Police say Terrence Wilmer, 57, unemployed, of Emmanuel Rd, Hastings, was sentenced when he appeared in custody at Lewes Crown Court on Friday (June 28). He was convicted on February 22 of seven counts of sexual offences against two young girls.

The offences took place in Robertsbridge, where Wilmer was living at one stage, and subsequently at his Hastings address, police say.Five of the offences - four indecent assaults and one count of rape - were committed against a girl under the age of 10 in the 1990s. For the rape Wilmer was given 16 years plus a further five years on extended licence. He received eight years for each of the sexual assault offences, to run concurrently with each other and with the rape sentence.Police say Wilmer was also convicted of two further sexual assaults against a second girl - who was aged under 12 - which took place ten years after the first offences. He was sentenced to eight years on each count, to run concurrently with each other, and also to run concurrently with the sentence for rape against the first girl.He was found not guilty of one count of sexual assault against the second girl.Wilmer will be a registered sexual offender for life and was given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) to last until further court notice, severely restricting his access to children.Detective Sergeant Dave Elcock of the East Sussex Safeguarding and Investigation Unit, said police first investigated Wilmer for the 1990s offences in 2004, although the CPS decided there was insufficient evidence to enable a prosecution at that time. DS Elcock said a fresh investigation was launched in 2014 when the victim came forward with new evidence.

The second victim - who had been targeted by Wilmer more than ten years after the first victim - came forward while the new investigation was taking place, DS Elcock said.

DS Elcock said: "Wilmer systematically groomed these vulnerable victims over time and took advantage of their vulnerability for his own gratification."We will always take seriously and investigate such allegations. If you wish to report any offence, against you or someone you know, please contact us online or by calling 101, and arrange to talk in confidence to experienced investigators."