A man who preyed on children as young as seven has been sentenced to prison after nearly five decades during which he believed he had escaped justice, according to police reports.

Kevin Hawkins, aged 65 and from Billericay in Essex, was responsible for abusing at least seven young victims, with his earliest known offense dating back to 1973.

The Essex Police launched their investigation into Hawkins in March 2021 after a woman came forward, alleging she was sexually assaulted by him in the 1980s.

Following his arrest and subsequent release on bail, further enquiries prompted six additional individuals to report similar abuse.

Hawkins, residing on Daines Road in Billericay, was convicted on 16 counts, including the rape of a child under 16 and five charges of indecent assault.

He was handed a sentence of 22 years in prison on Thursday.