A MAN from Coventry has been jailed for 15 years after pleading guilty to abusing three young children.
Derry Tift, aged 49 admitted to 16 counts of sexual offences against three girls between 2001 and 2013 and three counts of making indecent images of children at an earlier hearing at Warwick Crown Court.
The disturbing incidents came to light when officers from the online child sexual exploitation team conducted a warrant at Tift’s home address, acting on intelligence that he had been accessing indecent images of children on the internet.
After the warrant, a survivor of Tift’s abuse bravely came forward to tell officers of her ordeal when she was younger.
Thanks to the woman’s courage, this prompted another two survivors to come forward.
Officers also seized Tift’s computer and devices and found hundreds of indecent images of children.
Tift was sentenced to 15 years in prison at Warwick Crown Court and has been issued an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
Det Con Clare Sherwin from the West Midlands Police Public Protection Unit said: “This case highlights the importance of reporting sexual abuse regardless if the crimes are non-recent.
“If you are a survivor of sexual abuse then please report it. We have a team of specialist officers to help you and to guide you through the legal processes.
“We also work with a range of support groups that can offer advice.
“Three women bravely came forward to speak to officers and I hope it encourages other sexual abuse survivors to do the same.”
The force said it was important to note that survivors of sexual offences were protected by law and had life-long anonymity.
To speak to the force’s Public Protection Unit, call 101 or contact RSVP (Rape and Sexual Violence Project) Birmingham on 0121 643 4136.
