For decades the victims of paedophile Paul Andrews have lived with the trauma and torment of the abuse he subjected them to as children.
Now the 76-year-old, of Hawthorn Drive, Ipswich, is likely to die in jail after being given a 24-year jail term at Chelmsford Crown Court.
He was convicted of a catalogue of sex offences dating back to 1957.
In a case that made Suffolk legal history due to the length of time that had passed since the earliest sex assault, wheelchair-bound Andrews made each of his four victims fight for justice by denying all the offences.
The impact his actions have had on the women’s lives was illustrated by comments made by three of them in their victim personal statements.
One said: “For my entire life I have tried to erase and bury the horrendous memories that this abuse brings me, but there are still some memories that just will not go away however hard I try, and I wish I could forget.
“I’m tortured by what he’s done to me.
“I have lived my life believing I was the only victim.”
Another said: “Throughout my entire education I was aware I struggled as a student.
“It took me a long time to learn new skills and I have no doubt that trying to deal with the emotional after-effects of this abuse was overshadowing every aspect of my life.”
A third woman said: “I can honestly say I would have taken this to my grave. Sharing this experience is not something I had prepared myself for as I never thought the day would come.
“These thoughts have and probably will never leave me.
“I know at times as an adult I have suffered from low self-esteem and a lack of confidence.”
As well as his 24-year jail term, Andrews was given a further two years on licence.
He was found guilty of 14 charges which spanned the decades since the 1950s.
The offences included five counts of rape against a girl under 16 and two counts of indecent assault against a girl under 14.
There were also three counts of indecent assault against a girl under 14, two indecent assaults on a girl under 14, and two counts of sexual assault by penetration against a girl under the age of 13.
Sentencing Andrews Judge Christopher Morgan QC, sentencing, said: “You have devastated their lives.”
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