Note from me – This is  a case for which it took me time to digest the crime and offences. Clearly he was 12 when he committed the offences and I only include him on this website in case there was other victims who have not yet come forward May 2011 Man jailed for abusing kids when he was 12 FOUR victims of child abuse have seen the man responsible jailed 45 years after he committed the offences. John Hall was just 12 when he indecently assaulted his victims, who were all under the age of 11 at the time. Now 57, Hall was jailed for three-and-a-half-years after his victims contacted police last year. Hall, of Silverdale, Howden, was convicted by a jury at Hull Crown Court of five offences of indecent assault, which took place in Goole. His barrister Robert Underwood asked the court to suspend any prison sentence. He said: “In my submission, there is no indication at all here of any element of dangerousness. “One has to have regard to the historic nature of the allegations. He should be sentenced in a way so he is not deprived of his liberty. It should be suspended. “At the time of committing this offence, he himself was a child. “We are going back 40 years. He was yet to become an adult and that feature and that feature alone should go some way to reducing any sentence that would be imposed. “The allegations have been crippling for him. “He has not admitted this offending. In his own mind this didn’t happen. Clearly, he wishes to get his life back on track. “He wishes to put this matter behind him in the same way his victims wish for closure.” But Judge Jeremy Baker QC told Hall the trauma his victims had suffered since his offending meant only a custodial sentence could be justified. He said: “These matters came to the attention of the police last year and they arrested and interviewed you in the course of their investigation, throughout which you denied it and branded them liars. “It’s sometimes thought by those who have not been subjected to abuse that child victims are less likely to suffer trauma as a result of what has taken place. “This is far from reality. I had the benefit of seeing each of them, all now adults, giving evidence. “It is evident each of them has been profoundly affected throughout their adult lives. “One can only hope the jury’s verdict can go some way to diminish the trauma each continues to suffer. “It is the nature and degree of the emotional harm your offending caused that dictates only a custodial sentence can be justified for this offending.” Hall was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life and was barred from working with children.