A 63 YEAR OLD from the Isle of Wight has been jailed for seven and a half years for historic sex offences carried out on the mainland.
Richard Jones, of Grange Road, Shanklin — formerly known as Richard Ernest Bloch and a resident in Crawley — was jailed at Brighton Crown Court on Thursday.
He was convicted of seven indecent assaults and two charges of gross indecency, against four girls aged between six and 11, between 1991 and 2002.
Six of the indecent assault offences were committed against three of the girls, all in Crawley, between 1991 and 1995.
The two gross indecency offences and one indecent assault were committed against the fourth girl, at an address in Ruislip, Middlesex, and at an address in Sissinghurst, Kent, between 2000 and 2002, according to Sussex Police.
DS Sian Harding, of the West Sussex Safeguarding Investigation Unit, said: "Jones, who was known as Bloch until he changed his name in 1995, befriended the girl's families, worked his way into their confidence and systematically abused them, in most cases over a period of two or more years, for his own gratification.
"This came to light in 2015 when police were investigating an unrelated matter which is still under investigation.
"We will always take seriously all reports of sexual offences, from however long ago, and try to investigate wherever possible, to seek to achieve justice for the victims if we can."
She said anyone with information or concerns following Jones' sentencing, could contact her in confidence on 01273 404123.