December 2017 Victims praised by police as sexual predator is jailed for 19 years A sexual predator who targeted victims over four decades has been brought to justice, after those he abused found the courage to come forward. Dennis Butler abused three boys under the age of 14, as well as a woman, over a number of years. As Butler starts a jail sentence of 19 years, detectives are now highlighting the case as they pledge to offer support to anyone who comes forward to report sex abuse – no matter how long ago it happened. The crimes came to light when one of the victims confided in a friend, and was then spoken to by police at his school in March last year. Butler, 61, was arrested the next day and then released on bail while the investigation continued.  Two more victims then came forward to give detailed accounts of sexual abuse over a number of years.  One told police: “I’ve always struggled to talk and tell anyone about what happened to me and I hope that now I have come forward, it may offer me some sort of closure and stop the opportunity for him to do this to anybody else.” Another said: “It is difficult for me to put into words how I feel about him. He is a sick individual who needs to be punished for the lives he has ruined. Dennis Butler is an absolute monster.” Butler, of Chantry Road, Handsworth, faced 21 charges including rape, indecent assault, and sexual assault.  He was found guilty of all charges on 17 November following a two-week trial at Birmingham Crown Court  On Friday, he was jailed for 19 years, and ordered to spend a further five years on licence.