An 88-year-old Wythenshawe man will today begin a 20 year prison sentence after he was convicted of historic child sexual abuse. 

John Jarvisof Woodham Road, Wythenshawe, was found guilty after an eight day trial of three indecent assaults, two rapes and three offences of buggery.

Jarvis’ catalogue of sex abuse came to light in December 2012 Jarvis reported an assault to the police by a man who is now in his 30s. 

During the police interview the man explained he was simply trying to push Jarvis away after he had tried to grab his genitals. Jarvis told him he “didn’t seem to mind” when he was a child.

The man told police he had been systematically abused by Jarvis as a child and that he knew another child had also been abused by him. The offences occurred over a 13 year period between 1988 and 2001

Detective Constable Susan Hazell, based at Wythenshawe, said: “Jarvis’ sex abuse went unreported for years and as he neared the end of his life he must have thought he’d got away with it”

The judge in the case commended one of the victims for their ‘extraordinary dignity’ while giving evidence.

The officer added: “What little time Jarvis has left will now be spent in prison contemplating his crimes.”