Predatory paedophile jailed for 26 years for sexual abuse of young girls
Michael Hines sentenced for offences committed in the early 2000s
Michael Hines, an 82-year-old from Barnoldswick, has been sentenced to 26 years in prison for sexually abusing two young girls.
Hines was convicted of multiple sexual offences, including the rape of a girl under 13, following a trial at Burnley Crown Court last year.
The abuse took place in the Barnoldswick area in the early 2000s, and Hines began serving his sentence following a hearing on 27th March.
In a victim personal statement, one of the victims said: “It is hard to explain how deeply this has damaged me, because the effects have touched every part of who I am.
"What happened to me didn’t just end when the abuse stopped. It has changed the entire course of my life. Emotionally and mentally, I have been left carrying pain that was never mine to carry.”
Detective Constable Hannah Tofalos of Lancashire Police’s East Rape and Serious Sexual Offences Department said: “Michael Hines is a dangerous paedophile who preyed on his vulnerable victims and subjected them to abhorrent abuse, the seriousness of which is reflected in his lengthy custodial sentence.
“I want to commend the victims who have shown immense bravery in coming forward to report these crimes and throughout the court process.
"While no sentence can ever undo the trauma caused, we hope this result offers them a sense of justice as they continue on with their recovery.
“Lancashire Constabulary remain committed to bringing the perpetrators of sexual abuse to justice, regardless of how long ago the offences took place.
"I would encourage anyone who has been a victim of a sexual offence to come forward safe in the knowledge that they will be treated sensitively and professionally.”
Victim Support offers confidential assistance to those affected by sexual violence in Lancashire, funded by Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw.