A Portsmouth man has been sentenced to 28 years in prison for a number of non-recent child sex offences spanning several decades.

Anthony Plummer, 71, of Clydebank Road, Portsmouth, appeared before Portsmouth Crown Court on Friday (14 January) following a trial at the same court in November.

On Friday 3 December 2021 a jury found Plummer guilty of:

Two counts of rape

Two counts of attempted rape

Two counts of causing/inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity

Three counts of assault by penetration

Two counts of sexual assault

Two counts of indecent assault.

During the trial, the court heard how Plummer abused four girls aged between 9 and 16 across several years, with his first offence taking place in 1978 and the final reported offence taking place in 2009.

In 2019 one of Plummer’s victims contacted police, prompting three further victims to do the same and a thorough investigation followed which lead to Plummer being arrested and charged.

Plummer pleaded not guilty to all offences, but was found guilty by a jury and has now been sentenced to 28 years in prison with a two year license extension following this.

Sentencing, Judge David Melville QC said that no-body could fail to be moved by the impact statements of the victims, which were bravely read out in court.

He added that Plummer was a dangerous person and a predator.

DC Graham Skull, who led the investigation, said: “The victims in this case have been remarkably brave in coming forward to report these crimes and giving evidence in court about such a traumatic period of their young lives.

“They have had to live with the memory and effects of Plummer’s abuse for decades and the impact of that on their lives is almost inconceivable for those of us who have never experienced such abuse. I would like to commend them on their remarkable bravery and courage today, without which we would not have secured this result. We are pleased that the victims have now finally found justice having suffered the effects of this terrible abuse for decades.

“I hope that this sentence today shows that we will treat all reports of this nature with the utmost seriousness and investigate thoroughly, no matter when they occurred. I would like to appeal to anyone who has been affected by abuse of this type to come forward and talk to us, and be reassured that you don’t have to suffer in silence.”

Anyone who has been the victim of child abuse, or has any information about this type of abuse, is asked to contact police on 101 where you can speak to somebody in confidence.

Alternatively, anyone who has experienced abuse in childhood or is concerned about a child can contact the NSPCC helpline confidentially on 0808 800 5000 or email help@nspcc.org.uk. Children can contact Childline on 0800 1111.