January 2000 Man,62, jailed for sex abuse of girls A COVENTRY man who sexually abused two young girls was today starting a 2 year jail sentence. Henry Deakin, aged 62, of Cavendish House, Station Street East, Foleshill, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to two counts of indecent assault and one of gross indecency against the girls – now aged 11 and 12 – between January and September last year. Deakin, who is seriously ill with heart disease and emphysema, bowed his head as Judge Richard Cole passed sentence at Coventry Crown Court yesterday. Andrew Lockhart, defending, said Deakin felt ashamed and uncomfortable for what he had done. He added: “There was no violence, no threats and no grossly degrading behaviour involved in these offences.” Sentencing Deakin, Judge Cole, who heard that the defendant had a previous conviction for indecent assault against a child 30 years ago, said: “You are not a healthy man but it would be wrong to deal with this other than a custodial sentence.” Upon his release, Deakin will have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.