Guernsey Man Sentenced for Historic Child Sexual Offences

A man from Guernsey has been jailed for a total of eight years and 10 months for a number of serious sexual offences against children.Michael Derek Cotterill, aged 82, was found unanimously guilty in January of two counts of indecent assault, five counts of inciting a child to commit an act of gross indecency, and one count of common assault on a child.He received his sentence at Guernsey's Royal Court on Tuesday. Guernsey Police acknowledged the bravery and commitment of two women who came forward to report their experiences.The investigation began in June 2022 when police received a report from a woman in her 40s who claimed she was sexually abused by Cotterill when she was between seven and nine years old. During the investigation, another woman, also in her 40s, reported that she was sexually abused by Cotterill when she was 12 years old.Detective Chief Inspector Julie Palmer stated: "No child should ever have to endure such horrific abuse or have their innocence taken away in this way. I hope these convictions send a strong message that victims who come forward, no matter when the offence occurred, will be supported and offenders will face justice."