A MAN who carried out a three-decade campaign of ‘sickening’ sexual abuse of children, some as young as three, has been jailed for 19 years.
Christopher John Halloran, 67, of Sherburn-in Elmet, North Yorkshire, England, pleaded guilty to 25 out of 33 charges relating to the sexual abuse of children.
He was jailed at York Crown Court on Friday, February 1, 2019 and was also issued with a sexual harm prevention order.
Halloran’s offences, which date back to 1986, include child rape, sexual assault, assault by penetration, gross indecency with a child, sexual activity with a child, and inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.
They relate to nine victims aged between three and 19, with most of the abuse happening when the victims were aged between eight and 10 years old.
Some of the offences took place when Halloran lived in Eastleigh, Hampshire, however he continued to offend after he moved to North Yorkshire.
“Halloran took away his victims’ childhoods and most of them are still suffering from the sickening abuse that he subjected them to,” said investigating officer Detective Constable Amanda Bostwick.
“They have shown incredible strength and bravery in coming forward and reliving their experiences, it is not an easy thing to do.
“I welcome the sentence handed down by the court which reflects the seriousness of his offending and I sincerely hope that it provides the victims with some closure and that they can now put a traumatic time in their lives behind them.
“I also hope it encourages other victims of sexual abuse to come forward in the knowledge that it will be fully investigated.”
Halloran’s 19-year custodial sentence will be followed by an eight-year period on licence.
