Watford man jailed over historical sexual abuse to teen girl

William Kane, 82, appeared before St Albans Crown Court for sentencing today (November 10) after being convicted last month.

Following a five-day trial, Kane was found guilty of three charges of indecent assault on a female aged under 14 years old.

He was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment with an additional year to be served on licence.

It is understood that the victim was sexually touched on different occasions between 1978 and the early 1980s.

But the acts never came to public attention until the victim, now aged 53, was assisted by others in making police aware.

Read more:

• Victim of historical sexual abuse says she was 'scared to death'

When the victim spoke to the Observer last month, she said that Kane was one of her neighbours, and the first inappropriate sexual touch happened when she was 10 and playing with other children.

She said that since the sentencing, she felt a sense of closure and that she can "put it in a box and put a lid on it".

William Kane has been jailed

Detective Constable Beverley Thomson, who investigated Kane, said: “Firstly I want to publicly acknowledge the courage of the victim in this case, who has had to live with the devastating impact of Kane’s offending for more than 40 years.

“In late 2019, she made a disclosure to police and Kane was arrested on suspicion of indecent assault in January 2020. He denied the allegations and told us that the victim was a liar.

“However, he has been convicted in a court of law and justice has finally been served more than four decades on.

"I hope Kane’s sentencing provides the victim with a sense of closure and allows her to move forward after finally putting this chapter of her life behind her."

She added that the force will "always listen" to sexual abuse victims "however long ago" and that they will do their best to bring offenders like Kane to court.