A retired Bradford firefighter has been jailed for two years and three months after being convicted of indecent assault and indecency with a child.

And after Malcolm Vickers, 55, was sentenced, the Court heard that during the run up to the trial, a wreath, along with children's clothes, had been placed on his lawn at his Brompton Avenue home in Bradford and his car had been damaged.

A jury at Bradford Crown Court returned majority verdicts of ten to two for the remaining two charges this morning. He had already admitted indecently assaulting a teenage girl.

Following the verdict the family of his victims today said they hoped their children would finally be able to put the harrowing ordeal behind the, and carry on with their lives.

The mother of one of the children involved, a nine year old girl who cannot be named said: "I am delighted with the sentence, but if he had been a normal man and not a firefighter he would have been sent down for longer.

"As it is he will be out in just over a year, while my daughter will have to live with this for the rest of her life. He could have pleaded guilty at the start, and then none of the children would have had to go through giving evidence."

Another family, whose nine year old son was a victim of Vickers, added: "It's not long enough. Having said that he's got a life sentence in a way, because this will be on his mind forever, and he will have to go on the Paedophile Register. I am just glad it's all over."

Vickers stood emotionless in the dock as the sentence was read out by Judge Norman Jones QC. Sentencing him Judge Jones said: "I have no doubt there have been occasions during the course of your career you performed important deeds on behalf of the public. I've heard a great deal about your good character, but sadly it is a good character which is seriously flawed in a sexual way."

Vickers had already admitted an offence of indecently assaulting a teenage girl, and following today's verdict, pleaded guilty to perverting the cause of justice. On Friday he was cleared of falsely imprisoning two nine year old girls but found guilty of two charged of indecency with a child. A jury at Bradford Crown Court returned majority verdicts of ten to two for the remaining two charges this morning.

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