Alan Beecroft, already serving a jail term for other offences, has been sentenced to an additional six years and nine months for sexual abuse committed against a child.

Beecroft, who began abusing his victim while she was under the age of 10, was convicted of 11 counts of indecent assault at Sheffield Crown Court.

Detective Constable Helen Timms, from Sheffield's Protecting Vulnerable People (PVP) team, praised the victim's courage in coming forward.

"The victim in this case has demonstrated exceptional courage in sharing with police details of the horrific abuse she suffered as a young child," said DC Timms.

"Sexual abuse can have a significant and lasting impact on its victims, indeed the victim in this case was so traumatised by her abuse that she felt she couldn't tell anyone what was happening."

It was only in 2021, when Beecroft was jailed for sexual offences against other children, that the victim felt able to disclose the abuse she had suffered.

"She has shown incredible strength throughout our investigation and the legal process and I am pleased that we have been able to secure justice for her," said DC Timms.

The new sentence will run concurrently with Beecroft's existing four-year prison term.

DC Timms added: "I hope this case further highlights to the public how committed we are to securing justice for victims of sexual abuse, irrespective of when that abuse took place."