"Evil" child sex offender jailed for seven years

Alexander Palmer (62), of Selborne Street, Eastwood, was convicted of six counts of indecent assault and two counts of gross indecency with a child after a trial at Doncaster Crown Court.

Palmer (pictured), who was arrested by police in 2015 after an investigation had been launched, committed the offences on his victim, who was under the age of 15, between 1998 and 2002.

Police said he “abused his position of power and trust to target a vulnerable victim for his own sexual gratification."

Det Sgt Thomas Woodward praised Palmer’s victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, for coming forward and showing “great strength” throughout the prosecution and trial.

“Palmer abused his position of trust with the victim’s family for a number of years to be able to abuse the victim ,” he said.

“This was pure evil behaviour from Palmer — the jury realised this and the judge’s sentence reflects this.”

He appealed for any child sex abuse victims to come forward, saying: “They can be assured that each report will be treated very seriously, will be investigated thoroughly and wherever possible offenders will be brought to justice.”

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