A survivor of sexual abuse and her mother have described their feelings after a man from South Ockendon was jailed for 16 years yesterday.

Ian McCarthy, 42 of Central Avenue, appeared at Basildon Crown Court yesterday (8 March) where he was sentenced to 16 years imprisonment for non-recent sexual offences against a child.

The victim in this case bravely came forward to speak to police in 2020, to report that McCarthy had subjected her to multiple sexual assaults between 2015 and 2020.

Following the report, McCarthy was arrested and bought in for interview. He was then charged with numerous sexual offences.  

On 23 January this year, he appeared in court where he was found guilty of the following:

• Four counts of sexual assault against a child
• Two counts of digital penetration
• Five counts of rape of a child
• Two counts of Inciting a child by offering money
• One count of sexual activity by touching
• One count of sexual communication

Yesterday, he was sentenced to 16 years in prison plus two years and 10 months on license. He was also given a life-long Sexual Harm Prevention order.

Following the sentence, the mother of the victim described how they are both "still processing the result".

The victim's mother said "All I want is for anyone reading this to speak with their children and grandchildren and make sure they're reporting anything which has happened to them.

"I would 100% encourage people to report these offences to the police as they will be listened to. The police have been amazing in their approach, and I don't think we would have got through this as a family without the investigating officer."

Investigating officer Detective Constable Jeffery Wainman said "It's felt a real honour to investigate this and support the family through this process. They have demonstrated a huge amount of dignity and courage to continue pushing on with the investigation despite it taking a large amount of time to get to this point.

"McCarthy didn't even grant the victim the respect to admit to what he did, putting them through the court process.

"I hope they feel as though they have the justice they deserve. I hope that they can now find closure and flourish as a family again."

 Synergy Essex provides support and guidance for survivors of sexual and sexual abuse across Essex.

The Essex Rape Crisis Partnership is formed of three organisations:

• CARA (Centre for Action on Rape and Abuse) who cover mid and north Essex.
• SERICC (Rape and Sexual Abuse Specialist Service) who cover South and West Essex.
• SOS Rape Crisis who cover Southend, Castle Point and Rochford.

Survivors can self-refer and receive emotional support, specialist sexual violence and abuse counselling and or specialist advocacy services, no matter when the sexual violence or abuse occurred. In addition to this, they also offer support to survivor's loved ones.

For more information about how to get support, visit the Synergy Essex website.