Anthony Cove

Anthony Cove, an 87-year-old man from Grimsby, has been sentenced to nine years and four months in prison after admitting to a series of historical child sexual offences. The pensioner, of Bovill Close, was brought to justice when his victim reported the abuse to South Yorkshire Police, leading to an investigation and subsequent guilty pleas.

Cove pleaded guilty to two counts of sexually assaulting a girl under the age of 13. The offences occurred over a period of years, inflicting what detectives described as 'years of horrific sexual abuse'. Although the exact timeline of the abuse was not disclosed, police stressed that the passage of time did not diminish the lasting impact on the survivor.

At his sentencing hearing, Cove was given a special custodial sentence comprising a nine-year and four-month prison term, with an extended licence period of one year. The court also imposed a sexual harm prevention order and a restraining order prohibiting any contact with the victim. Two further charges—inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity and an additional count of sexual assault—were ordered to lie on file.

Detective Constable Cameron Vernon of South Yorkshire Police said: 'Anthony Cove is a dangerous individual who inflicted years of horrific sexual abuse on his victim. The victim and their family showed incredible bravery during court, ensuring that Cove will remain behind bars for a long time. I hope that his sentence brings them some measure of comfort at the end of this horrible ordeal.'

Despite the age of the offences, the case highlights that non-recent sexual abuse can still be successfully prosecuted. Cove, now 87, faces the remainder of his life in custody for his crimes.