April 2010 71-year-old is jailed over sexual abuse of three girls A 71-YEAR-OLD man has been jailed for sexually abusing three girls during a 30-year period. William Tabberer, who admitted 12 offences, shook as he stood in the dock and the judge sentenced him to four-and-a-half years. One of his victims was only five when he touched her indecently and performed a sexual act in front of her. The last time he indecently touched her was when she was 14. She was the first to go to the police to report the allegations; after this the others came forward. Derby Crown Court heard that she felt like he had “taken away her innocence”. Sentencing Tabberer, Judge Robert Brown said: “You defiled them. You abused them. You caused them serious harm.” Speaking about the woman who reported Tabberer, Julia King, prosecuting, said she had “very few memories of her childhood” because she had blocked out the happy occasions as well as the bad ones. “She has difficulty trusting people and feels that if somebody is nice to her, he has an ulterior motive,” said Miss King. The court heard that another victim, who was indecently assaulted by Tabberer between the ages of six and 18, now finds it hard to trust men. Miss King said Tabberer’s third victim was indecently assaulted by him on three occasions when she was aged nine or 10. “She describes how she has been upset a lot and has never really been open with people,” said Miss King. Tabberer, of Langley Road, Spondon, admitted 10 offences of indecent assault between 1971 and 2001 and two charges of indecency with a child between 1980 and 1982. Christopher Lowe, in mitigation, said Tabberer had pleaded guilty and had fully accepted what he had done. Mr Lowe said: “He fully appreciates his behaviour has been despicable over the years and at the age of 71 finds himself for the first time sitting in the dock of the crown court. “It is something of a relief that it came to the knowledge of the authorities. “He now sits in court absolutely racked with remorse.” Tabberer must also abide by a sexual offenders prevention order. This includes a ban on entering the premises of a school or nursery. He must also sign the sex offenders’ register and has been banned from working with children.