A PENSIONER who sexually abused two boys has been jailed for five years.
Michael Crawford, 69, of Barrett Street, Alvaston, was convicted of three counts of sexual assault against the boys who were six and 13/14 at the time they were abused.
The crimes took place almost 30 years ago in Allenton and only came to light when the two victims came forward in adult life.
DC Jackie Vallack and DC Sean Lambert, who carried out the two-year investigation, praised the bravery and determination of the two victims who came forward.
DC Lambert said: "It takes a great deal of courage to report these types of offences but I want to reassure victims that their allegations will be taken seriously and investigated.
"This case proves that successful prosecutions are possible and that the perpetrators of these crimes can be brought to justice."
Crawford was handed a Sexual Offender Prevention Order restricting him from having unsupervised contact with boys under 16 years of age and was placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely.
