September 2017 Paedophile, 102, who abused girl 40 years ago ordered to pay compensation A 102-year-old paedophile who sexually abused a schoolgirl 40 years ago has been ordered to pay her £25,000. Douglas Hammersley molested his young victim during the 1970s. The woman, now in her 40s, finally went to the police after his family threw him a party for his 100th birthday in 2015, which was reported in a local newspaper. She was praised for her bravery and courage during the sentencing hearing at Aylesbury Crown Court on Monday. Hammersley, who was excused from attending, was given a two-year suspended prison sentence, placed on the sex offender register and ordered to pay £25,000 compensation. Judge Francis Sheridan said: “To award compensation is wholly unusual in a case like this but the young victim has carried this cross of abuse for year upon year upon year. “She very properly complained to anyone that would listen. “She has waited a very long time for justice but I hope justice is what she has got. “She was telling the truth the whole way through, from the first complaint to the last. “For that I applaud her for her steadfastness in getting justice.” The victim, who cannot be identified, sat in court during the sentencing hearing. Judge Sheridan told her: “You are a brave woman and I applaud your determination to get justice. “I hope now you can leave feeling that ultimately you have been vindicated for persevering and hope you have seen justice done.” Hammersley, of New Malden in Surrey, said he had no memory of the time around the attacks. He previously pleaded guilty to three counts of indecent assault against a girl under the age of 14, in 1977 and 1979. July 2017 Paedophile, 101, avoids jail for sexually assaulting schoolgirl A 101-year-old paedophile has avoided jail for sexually assaulting a schoolgirl 40 years ago. Douglas Hammersley pleaded guilty to all three charges brought against him at Aylesbury Crown Court. His victim, who was young at the time of the attacks, is now in her 40s. She was lauded by the NSPCC for her ‘tremendous courage’ in coming forward about the attacks. Judge Francis Sheridan said he would save his sentencing remarks until another hearing in September. However, he told the elderly defendant that he would be given a two year prison sentence, suspended for two years – meaning that unless he commits another offence in the next two years he will not need to go to prison. Hammersley was born in April 1916, as Britain was in the throes of World War I. He now lives in New Malden in Surrey. He had to attend numerous court hearings debating whether, at his age, he was fit enough to go through the legal process. But more than six months after the centenarian was charged, he finally pleaded guilty to three counts of indecent assault against a girl under the age of 14, in 1977 and 1979.