Description
A Wakefield man has been jailed for more than six years for historic child sex offences against two victims.
Malcolm Shipman, aged 64, of no fixed address, Wakefield, appeared at Teesside Crown Court today (Tuesday, 13 September) for sentencing after being found guilty at an earlier hearing.
Shipman, who is a former manager of the Snooty Fox pub in Wakefield, was sentenced for four counts of indecency with a child.
The offences occurred between 1988 and 1997.
He was sentenced to six years, five months in prison and ordered to sign on the sex offenders register.
Detective Inspector Paul Oldham, of Wakefield District Crime Safeguarding, said:
The investigating officers and I welcome this sentence today. The bravery shown by the victims to report this man for the truly horrendous offences carried out against them as children, must be recognised and not underestimated.
Their courage has resulted in the successful prosecution of Shipman, ensuring the safeguarding of future possible victims.
I would like to reassure others who are suffering, have suffered or those who have any information of similar offences that we have specially trained officers who will treat victims with compassion and will work tirelessly to bring perpetrators to justice.
You can report crime or contact us online at Contact us | West Yorkshire Police. You can also contact us by calling 101. You should always call 999 in an emergency.
There is more information about what happens when you report sexual offences and the support available on our website at: Serious Sexual Assaults Campaign | West Yorkshire Police
In a statement issued by the victims following the sentencing, they said:
We are now adults, but we were those two little girls who we feel have finally been given a voice and have got justice for the horrible childhood we had to endure.
We both never dared speak out about what this man did to us as children, we had hoped to never have to and just wanted to get on with our lives, but you never forget the past as much as you try.
We have done this to stop him hurting anyone else and to finally tell the truth and get justice for what happened to us.
It has been the most painful experience going through this trial and there is still a lot of healing to do, as hard as this has been he had to be held accountable for his own sick choices against vulnerable children.
We encourage anyone who has been through anything like this to please come forward, it is not easy, but it is the right thing to do.
The fear of speaking out and him getting away with it keeps you prisoner long after the abuse. We urge others not to be scared and come forward to show strength in numbers to these predators and that there will be consequences, no matter how long it takes.