A MAN has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for sexual offences.

William Joyce, 63, of Valley Ridge, Kippax, was convicted of three counts involving two children and a woman following a trial.

He was given a nine-year term for sexual assault on a child under 13 and sexual activity with a child over 13 when he appeared at Doncaster Crown Court today.

He was given a consecutive three-year term for sexual assault on a female.

He was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

The offences occurred in Leeds in 2012, 2018 and 2019.

Detective Inspector Mark Tester, of Leeds District Safeguarding Unit, said: “We hope that Joyce’s conviction and imprisonment for these offences will provide the victims with some source of reassurance as they continue to move on with their lives.

“Specialist Safeguarding officers have supported them throughout this complex and challenging investigation and the trial process which has seen Joyce brought to justice.

“This case should illustrate the work that Safeguarding officers do to ensure offenders like Joyce are held accountable for their actions, and we hope it will give anyone who is a victim of offences such as these the confidence to come forward and report them.”