Pensioner, 76, jailed for historic child sex offences
A pensioner has been jailed for 13 years after being found guilty of historic child sex offences.
David Robinson Almond, 76, was found guilty of sexually assaulting three girls and one boy in the 1980s and 1990s.
Almond, from Greasby, Merseyside, was arrested in 2017 and subsequently charged with eight counts of indecent assault and four counts of indecency with a child on the Wirral.
He was sentenced on Thursday following a trial at Liverpool Crown Court.
Almond was also given an additional year on licence and issued a lifetime Sex Offenders Order.
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One of his victims said they had been left with chronic depression, anxiety, self-loathing and PTSD as a result of the abuse.
"I feel that my abuser stole and forever changed my childhood spirit,” they said in a victim personal statement.
“I have hit rock bottom so many times, I have visited hell and purgatory for no fault of my own.
"He tainted my innocence in a predatory calculating manner. He groomed a child... at a time when I trusted all adults.
“He groomed me, buying me buying me gifts for his sexual perversions.
"I am using my voice to say you damaged me for decades and today I am still damaged.”
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They added: "I think about what you did to me and realise a bit of me will always be missing. No medication, extra therapy, starving myself or unhelpful, destructive coping methods has kept you out of my mind.
“Every day of my life you have visited my thoughts, dreams and hope."
Detective Constable Kevin Thomas said: “Almond systematically abused these children by grooming them and giving gifts, and through the victims’ bravery we are able to see him face justice today.
“The effects on all of his victims are clearly significant and long-lasting and we only hope this verdict brings some comfort.”
