02/09/2022
69-Year-Old Sentenced To 22 Years For Sexual Abuse Of Children
A 69-year-old man has been sentenced to 22 years at Coleraine Crown Court today, Friday 2nd September for the sexual abuse of children.
William Patterson, from the Maghera area, was sentenced to 22 years relating to sexual abuse offences involving children and will be placed on the Sex Offenders Register and subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO).
Patterson was convicted of 84 offences involving 19 children, carried out over a 10 year period.
Welcoming the conviction, Detective Chief Inspector Kerry Brennan said: "Our Public Protection Branch specialist detectives are trained to investigate this type of crime and we will continue to empower victims to come forward and educate adults on how to spot the signs of abuse.
"Our thoughts today, are with the young victims that this man preyed over for many years and their families. No child should ever have to suffer this type of horrific abuse.
"We want to thank them for their bravery in coming forward and their families for working with detectives to bring this abuser to justice.
"If you are concerned that a child may be being abused, or you have been the victim of sexual abuse. Please come forward to us by calling 101, or in an emergency call 999. Don't suffer in silence."
William Patterson, from the Maghera area, was sentenced to 22 years relating to sexual abuse offences involving children and will be placed on the Sex Offenders Register and subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO).
Patterson was convicted of 84 offences involving 19 children, carried out over a 10 year period.
Welcoming the conviction, Detective Chief Inspector Kerry Brennan said: "Our Public Protection Branch specialist detectives are trained to investigate this type of crime and we will continue to empower victims to come forward and educate adults on how to spot the signs of abuse.
"Our thoughts today, are with the young victims that this man preyed over for many years and their families. No child should ever have to suffer this type of horrific abuse.
"We want to thank them for their bravery in coming forward and their families for working with detectives to bring this abuser to justice.
"If you are concerned that a child may be being abused, or you have been the victim of sexual abuse. Please come forward to us by calling 101, or in an emergency call 999. Don't suffer in silence."
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.
