"Sexual predator jailed for 14 years for abusing four young girls"

[dutchman]

Sex offender Gareth Berry committed the offences over a five-year period



A depraved predator who sexually abused four young girls has been jailed for 14 years.

Gareth Berry, 39, from Coventry, committed the offences at addresses in Leicester and Northampton between 2011 and 2016.

His youngest victim was just 12 when Berry began abusing her.

In 2016, two victims living in Northampton reported the abuse to police and an investigation began.

As a result of subsequent enquires, two victims living in Leicester identified themselves to officers from Leicestershire Police's Child Abuse Investigation Unit (CAIU) and said they too had been sexually abused by Berry.

Despite denying the allegations he was charged and found guilty of six counts of sexually assaulting a child under 13, three counts of sexual activity with a child and one count of sexually assaulting a child under 13 following a trial at Leicester Crown Court.

Berry, of Houldsworth Crescent, Holbrooks, is subject to an extended licence period of one-year, an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and has been placed on the sex offenders' register for life.

Detective Raj Pahal, from the Child Abuse Investigation Unit, said: “All four victims were children when Berry began abusing them.

"He took advantage of them for his own sexual gratification in the belief that they wouldn’t tell anyone about what he was doing.

“However, as they got older they realised what had happened and reported his crimes to police.

"I hope the fact that he has been convicted of his crimes – and is now serving a significant custodial sentence – will provide some reassurance and allow them to begin to move on with their lives.”