A Suffolk man has been jailed for 18 years after being convicted of a catalogue of “abhorrent” historic child sex offences.

Following Glen Martin’s imprisonment detectives praised his two victims for having the courage to come forward.

Martin, of Aldwyck Way, Lowestoft, was found guilty of three rapes, three counts of buggery, two indecent assaults and two counts of gross indecency with a child.

The 53-year-old was acquitted of a further indecent assault and a third count of gross indecency with a child.

Although Martin had denied all 12 offences he was found guilty by a jury after a trial at Ipswich Crown Court which lasted just over a week.

After his conviction Detective Constable Lisa Hogan-Green from Suffolk Constabulary’s dedicated rape investigation unit said: “We are delighted on behalf of the victims that Glen Martin has been sentenced at court to an 18-year prison term.

“The crimes he committed against his young victims were abhorrent.

“His victims were incredibly brave to come forward a number of years later to report the offences to us and to relive the trauma of what they were subjected to and we will ensure that the victims receive ongoing support.

“Suffolk Constabulary is committed to investigating rapes and serious sexual offences whether current or historic.

“Hopefully the sentencing of Martin will go some way to reassure and give confidence to victims of such offences to come forward to us, safe in the knowledge that we will fully and thoroughly investigate these types of crimes to ensure those responsible are brought to justice.”

Martin was charged earlier this year and made his first appearance before North East Suffolk Magistrates Court in Lowestoft on March 4.

The case was then committed to Ipswich Crown Court.

Some of the former car valeter’s offences dated back almost 30 years. At the time he was living in north London and Cheshunt.

Other sex assaults took place several years later and occurred in Hemsby, Norfolk, and Lowestoft.

Martin was accused of seven assaults on one boy and five on another.