September 2018 Pensioner sentenced for ‘club’ sex assaults on teenage boy A Hull DJ sexually assaulted a teenage boy who helped him carry around his records in a club dressing room. Dennis Tindall, also known as Dennis Cooper, targeted the 13-year-old boy through his love of music and would get him to help carry his records before taking him to his dressing room and sexually abusing him. The offences, which took place in the mid 1980s, have left a “lasting emotional effect” on his victim, who even attempted to commit suicide, Hull Crown Court heard. Now a man, Tindall’s victims, who has not been named for legal reasons, said: “I was only a young boy. “My mum was sick and had cancer so I couldn’t tell her what had happened. “Dennis acted like a friend to me, but I now know he wasn’t and that he groomed me. “Because of what happened I didn’t get the grades I should have and I have been diagnosed with depression and anxiety and I am now under the mental health act. “I have had suicidal thoughts and even took myself to the Humber Bridge on one occasion.” Claire Holmes, prosecuting in Hull Crown Court on Friday, said the victim’s father introduced him to Tindall, who was a work colleague, because his son loved music and he knew Tindall would DJ occasionally. One night at the Hull social club where Tindall was working, he targeted the boy telling him he had some new records. Ms Holmes said: “The defendant asked him to get some records from his dressing room. “The defendant then followed him and in the dressing room he brushed his body up against him. “He told the boy ‘you’ve got a cute bottom’ before he was interupted.” Further assaults took place Two more sexual assaults took place, one of which was at Tindall’s home where he cared for his elderly mother, who was bed-bound. He had asked his victim round to look at his new records before sexually assaulting him in his bedroom. The third assault happened again at the social club where Tindall was DJ’ing. Tindall’s victim bravely found the courage to report what happened to him after telling his wife in 2014. Tindall, who is now 85, pleaded guilty to three indecent assaults against the boy on the day he was due to stand trial back in June. He appeared at Hull Crown Court to be sentenced on Friday. Christopher Dunn, in mitigation, said his client had never been in any trouble with the law before and was of “exemplary conduct” having previously served in the Royal Air Force. Mr Dunn read a direct apology from Tindall to his victim, who was in court throughout. It said: “I want to apologise, I deeply regret it all. “I want to apologise for all the distress I have caused to him and his family, I just don’t know how I can do that. “I will take what’s coming to me.” ‘This is a death sentence for Tindall’ Mr Dunn said he committed the offences at a “very dark” time in his life and would now pay the price. He said: “He’s 85 years old. He has had a stroke and heart attacks and has problem with memory loss and confusion. “Any sentence of immediate prison could in fact be a death sentence.” Judge David Tremberg sentenced Tindall to 34 months in prison stating what he did had left a “deep-seated and long lasting emotional legacy” on the victim. He said Tindall’s crimes had “eaten away” at the victim for years and that Tindall knew what he was doing was “seriously wrong”. The judge said: “The complainant had an interest in music and you had a sexual interest in him. “You created opportunities to sexually abuse that poor young boy.” Tindall must also register as a sex offender for life. ‘Justice has prevailed’ His victim welcomed his sentence. He said: “Today just clarified everything for me. “This has been going on for so long, maybe I should have said something sooner, but it was very difficult with my mum being poorly and being so young. “I am glad he apologised in court, it shows he has finally acknowledged what he did to me. “Justice has prevailed.” June 2018 Pensioner, 85, admits historic ‘club’ sex assaults on teenage boy A man in his 80s has admitted sexually abusing a teenage boy more than 30 years ago. Dennis Tindall, 85, was due to stand trial at Hull Crown Court on Tuesday but pleaded guilty to three indecent assaults against the same boy. Although details of the offences were not given by prosecutor John Thackray, two were said to have taken place at a “club”, including one in a “dressing room”, and one at a house. Tindall, of Southburn Avenue, west Hull, was released on bail and is due to be sentenced on August 10. He had a “very old” conviction for theft, the court heard. Judge Roger Thomas QC told him: “Dennis Tindall, can you stand up a minute? You need to be back here next on the 10th of August. That’s when the case will be concluded, that’s when the sentence will be passed. “What the sentence will be I can’t begin to tell you; I won’t be the sentencing judge. He or she will be better informed than I am today because there will be up to date medical information about you and the probation service will meet with you and they will prepare a report about you. “One consequence of your pleas of guilty today is you have to register as of today with the sex offenders’ register. But have your bail until then on the 10th of August.”