Andrew Blake 52

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A brave survivor has heaped praise on police and criminal justice partners after her abuser has been put behind bars after almost 40 years.

Andrew Blake subjected his victim to a tirade of sexual assaults in the 1980s and 1990s – starting from when she was just nine years old, and he was a teenager.

Now an adult, the brave survivor spoke out against her abuser in 2020 after having been left completely traumatised by the abuse for her entire life.

An investigation was launched by the Force’s Safeguarding Department and Blake, now 52, attended a police station to be interviewed where he initially admitted to two instances of sexual abuse.

However, the investigation continued and in 2022, he was charged with a total of 16 offences of indecent assault – being that the offences took place before the Sexual Offences Act was introduced in 2003.

He continued to deny the allegations, however in February this year a jury at Newcastle Crown Court saw through his lies and he was convicted unanimously of all 16 offences.

On Thursday (May 30), Blake, of Parc Pentywyn, Deganwy, Conwy, Wales, was handed a three-year sentence behind bars at the same court.

He will also spend the rest of his life on the Sex Offenders’ Register and his victim will be protected by a life-long restraining order.