KEVIN TYLER OF GRIMSBY SENTENCED FOR DECADES-OLD SEX ABUSE CASES

In a case that has spanned over two decades, Kevin Tyler, a 53-year-old man from Heneage Road in Grimsby, has been sentenced to nine years in prison following his conviction on multiple charges related to sexual abuse. The court heard harrowing details of the abuse inflicted upon a young girl, which took place between 1993 and 1997, when she was a child. The victim, now an adult, bravely testified about her realization that the abuse was not normal only after receiving sex education at school, a revelation that came long after the incidents occurred.

Kevin Tyler was found guilty of attempting to rape the girl during the period in question, as well as three counts of indecent assault. Additionally, he faced five charges of indecently assaulting a boy of the same age during the same timeframe. Although he was acquitted of three of these allegations, the remaining convictions stood. For legal reasons, neither of the victims—who are now adults—can be publicly identified.

Prosecutor David Gordon outlined to Grimsby Crown Court that six of the eight indecent assault charges were considered 'specimen charges,' meaning they served as representative examples of ongoing abuse rather than isolated incidents. The jury, composed of seven men and five women, deliberated for more than six hours before reaching their verdicts.

The court was told that most of the abuse occurred at Tyler’s residence on Heneage Road. Mr. Gordon described how Tyler would take the children into his bedroom, encouraging them to undress, either fully or partially, under the guise of playing a game. On one occasion, Tyler attempted to rape the girl but was unsuccessful; instead, he performed a sex act. Over a span of two years, he engaged in similar acts on a handful of occasions, causing lasting trauma.

The victim recounted that the abuse only ceased after she received sex education at secondary school and recognized that what had happened was 'not normal.' She recalled telling Tyler during his next attempt to abuse her, 'No, leave me alone, it’s not right,' which marked the end of the abuse. The court also heard that Tyler had similarly abused a boy during the same period, encouraging him to simulate sex and assaulting him.

Kevin Tyler was described as a 'feeble-minded man' who had never moved out of his childhood home. Court reports painted a picture of squalor, with Tyler living in conditions lacking basic amenities such as a bathroom or inside toilet. He was entirely dependent on his mother, Shirley Tyler, for cooking and cleaning.

Defense arguments suggested that the allegations might have been fabricated in an attempt to secure compensation following a small inheritance, which Tyler was unaware of at the time. However, the victims came forward before any such claim could be made.

As part of his sentence, Tyler was issued a 15-year sexual offences prevention order and was ordered to register as a sex offender for life, underscoring the severity of his crimes and the court’s commitment to public safety.