June 2022

Abuse victim thanks officers after his abuser jailed

Police officers have been thanked for treating a sexual abuse victim with “compassion and respect” after their abuser was jailed for a total of more than 17 years.

63 year-old Andrew Dutton, of Dean Street, Blackpool, abused two boys in Benfleet in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Our investigation by our Quest team – which investigates non-recent child sexual abuse – started after the offences were reported to us in March and April 2019.

Dutton was later charged with 10 offences:

• Five counts of indecent assault;
• Five counts of indecency with a child.

He was found guilty of all charges on Wednesday 15 June following a trial at Basildon Crown Court.

At the same court two days later, he was jailed for a total of 17 and-a-half years.