A POLICE detective has said she hopes the jailing of a rapist convicted of abusing two children in the 1980s will serve as a reminder that justice can still be served even decades later.

Gary Hicks, now 64, was handed a 16-year sentence on Friday for a series of offences against two young children in the Milford Haven area between 1987 and 1989.

He was aged between 27 and 29 at the time of his offending.

Hicks was found guilty of rape, two offences of indecency with a child, and three offences of indecent assault across two trials.

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“I would like to thank the two extremely brave victims in this case,” said Detective Constable Emily Gmerek, the officer in charge of the investigation for Dyfed-Powys Police.

“They have shown immense strength of character, firstly in talking about the abuse, and secondly for working with us throughout the investigation, and the trials.

“This case is an important reminder that justice can be served many years after abuse has taken place.

“I sincerely hope the victims and their families can now try and move on with their lives, and that after almost 40 years, Hicks’ sentencing gives them some kind of closure.”

Following a trial last August, Hicks was convicted of two charges of indecency with a child and three of indecent assault. He was cleared of one charge of rape and one charge of indecent assault, and the jury were unable to reach a decision on a second rape charge.

A retrial was heard in February over the second rape allegation, and the jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict.

The court heard that Hicks had threatened the girl to ensure she didn’t tell anyone what he did to her.

“He told her if she ever told anyone about the abuse, she wouldn’t be believed and she would have no friends,” prosecutor Daniel Jones said.

“Who is going to believe a young girl over a grown up?”

“This had the desired effect on her,” Judge Huw Rees said.

The allegations eventually came to light in 2022, when the police were called in the early hours of October 13 after the female victim disclosed what had happened to her.

After these emerged, the male victim then disclosed what the defendant had done to him.

“It was a very distasteful and discomforting act,” said Judge Rees, as he sentenced Hicks to 16 years imprisonment, with a further year on licence.

The defendant, now of Oregon Way in Luton, will serve a minimum of two-thirds of his sentence before being eligible for release.

Both victims were granted indefinite restraining orders, and Hicks must register as a sex offender for life.