October 2017 80-year-old jailed for indecent assault against young girl An 80-year-old man has been jailed for three years for child sex abuse. Dennis Rudd, who uses a walking frame, was found guilty after a trial of touching a girl. The victim told Teesside Crown Court Rudd asked her if she liked what he was doing, and did he want him to do it again. The girl told her mother at the time, but she decided not to call the police. When confronted by the girl’s mother, Rudd said he she must have dreamed what had happened. The victim told Teesside Crown Court Rudd asked her if she liked what he was doing, and did he want him to do it again. The girl told her mother at the time, but she decided not to call the police. When confronted by the girl’s mother, Rudd said he she must have dreamed what had happened. During his trial, he denied saying that, but said the girl had made up the allegations because she was an attention seeker. The victim told the jury: “He still thinks it’s not real, there was no remorse for what he’d done.” Rudd, of Sea View Park Homes, Easington Road, Hartlepool, denied a single charge of indecent assault. He was convicted after a trial lasting two days.  Jailing Rudd for three years, Judge Peter Armstrong told him: “Your victim told her mother within two weeks of this happening, which I regard as telling evidence against you. “I take into account this was a single incident, and very much out of character. “Those factors can reduce the length of sentence, but it has to be immediate custody. “You will serve half the sentence in custody before being eligible for parole, which I anticipate will be granted in your case. “The sentence I have passed is as short as it can be, commensurate with my public duty.” Rudd must register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. September 2017 Man, 80, guilty of sex attack An 80-year-old man has been warned he faces a spell in prison after being convicted of child sex abuse. Friends and relations of Dennis Rudd wept as a jury returned a guilty verdict to the single charge he faced of indecently assaulting a child. During two days of evidence at Teesside Crown Court, Rudd’s victim said he had touched her when she was a child. “He asked if I enjoyed it,” she said. “He then asked if I wanted him to do it again.” The victim told her mother what had happened at the time, but the police were not contacted until many years later. Prosecutor Robin Turton said Rudd was challenged by the victim’s mother at the time. “He said the victim must have dreamed what had happened,” Mr Turton told the jury. Giving evidence in his defence, Rudd denied saying the girl had dreamed the allegation, but insisted he had not sexually assaulted her. Rudd, of Sea View Park Homes, Easington Road, Hartlepool, denied one charge of indecent assault of a child. He was convicted by the jury after a trial lasting three days. Paul Cleasby, defending, said there would need to be probation and medical reports before Rudd can be sentenced. Judge Peter Armstrong ordered the reports, and told Rudd all sentencing options are open. The judge ordered the sentencing hearing to take place at Teesside Magistrates’ Court because the crown court building does not have the facilities to take a disabled defendant into custody. Rudd was bailed until October 18.