A man who committed a string of sex offences against children over three decades has been jailed.

Between 1961 and 1990 Allan Hammond abused children in Chigwell, Saffron Walden and Tolleshunt D'Arcy.

The past caught up with the 79 year-old in November 2016 however, when he stood trial for a number of the offences.

Aside from a guilty verdict when it came to the offence of making indecent images of children, the jury was hung on all other charges.

The retrial began at Chelmsford Crown Court on July 9 this year and lasted ten days.

Hammond was found guilty of a further 11 offences including the rape of a girl under the age of 16, five counts of indecent assault of a girl under the age of 13, two counts of indecent assault of a girl under the age of 16, one count of indecent assault of a boy under the age of 16 and one count of committing buggery with a boy under the age of 16.

He has been placed on the sex offender’s register for life.

On Friday, August 17, the Steeple View in March, Cambridgeshire resident was sentenced to 17 years in prison with a further two years on license.

DC Claire Learmouth, of the Grays child abuse investigation team, led the investigation since the beginning.

She said: “I would like to commend the exceptional bravery of the victims in this case.

"Without their courage in facing Hammond not once, but twice, in court, we may not have had this result.

"I hope that this can give the much-needed message to others that it is never too late for victims to come forward.”

DC Stacie Collins, also from the Grays Child Abuse Investigation Team, added: "This was an incredibly difficult trial for the victims, and I cannot thank them enough for coming together and facing Hammond in court again.

"Sadly, we will never be able to get back the years he stole from them, but I hope that this substantial sentence can go some way in helping their lives move forward."