A PENSIONER has been jailed after sexually abusing a young girl two decades ago.
Keith Murphy, 73, indecently assaulted his victim on multiple occasions when she was aged between nine and 12 years old.
The abuse was carried out in the 1990s and early 2000s at an address in the seaside resort town of Blackpool in Lancashire.
Police described Murphy as an opportunistic "sexual predator".
Murphy, of Cheddar Avenue, Blackpool, was convicted of nine counts of indecent assault on a girl under 14 and eight counts of indecency with a girl under 16.
On Monday at Preston Crown Court, he was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment.
"Murphy is a sexual predator who took every opportunity he could to abuse his young victim," said Detective Constable Scott Ogilvie of the Child Protection team at Blackpool.
"I would like to commend her bravery in both coming forward to report what happened to her and in having the strength to go through the court process.
"That courage has now seen a dangerous man taken off the streets and put where he belongs — behind bars.
"I would encourage anyone who has been the victim of sexual abuse — regardless of how long ago or who the alleged perpetrator — to come forward and report it to us confident in the knowledge that we will investigate with sensitivity and professionalism."
