Update: To be released in 3rd week of April 2019. Going to St. Ives area of Cornwall May 2013 Sex offender jailed for attacks on children A PAEDOPHILE has been jailed for 12 years for sexually abusing five children between six and 15 in Evesham in the 1980s and 1990s. Anthony Curtis, now of Main Street, Ash near Yeovil was sentenced at Worcester Crown Court on Tuesday (May 15) after being found guilty of 19 offences following a two week trial. The offences were committed against three girls and two boys between between 1982 and 1998 while Curtis was a resident of the Kings Road in Evesham. Worcester Crown Court heard how the 59-year-old had committed acts of gross indecency or indecent assault on 19 separate occasions against the victims. Det Con Lisa Grogan of West Mercia Police’s Protecting Vulnerable People department said the abuse was only revealed when one of Curtis’s victims spoke out. “Curtis systematically abused these children over a number of years, abusing a position of trust,” she said. “It took many years for one of his victims to contact the police and from there we were able to identify the other people he abused. “I would like to commend them for their courage in coming forward to report the offences to the police and for placing their trust in the judicial system. “I hope this will encourage other victims to speak out in order to gain the justice they deserve and ensure that dangerous sex offenders are prevented from offending again.” Det Insp Neil Austin, who leads the Protecting Vulnerable People team in South Worcestershire, said: “This has been a lengthy and protracted investigation, which took a huge amount of time and effort to get to the point where Curtis has finally been brought to justice. “We work closely with other agencies to ensure victims of historic sexual abuse are given all the support possible.“I would like to reassure anyone who has been or is a victim of child abuse, that they can contact the police and that they will be treated in a caring and sensitive manner.” Anyone who has been a victim of sexual abuse can call contact West Mercia Police via the non-emergency police number 101. The Glade centre which offers support to men, women and children who have experienced rape or sexual assault can also be contacted on 08081 782058, by e-mail on info@theglade.org.uk or via the website www.theglade.org.uk.