82-year-old Michael Derek Cotterill has been sentenced to 8 years and 10 months in prison after being unanimously found guilty of several serious sexual offences against children, which he committed by befriending the victims’ families.
After he was sentenced yesterday, Bailiwick Law Enforcement urged any other victims of historic offences to also get in touch with Guernsey Police so they can investigate.
Officers began their investigation into Cotterill’s past actions in June 2022 after Guernsey Police received a report from a woman in her 40s who alleged she had been abused by him as a child.
While that investigation was underway, the police’s Public Protection Unit received a second report from another woman in her 40s who said Cotterill had abused her too.
The two women who were unknown to each other had been aged between 7 and 9 and 12 at the time of the offences.
Cotterill denied the abuse but was found guilty of two counts of indecent assault, five counts of inciting a child to commit an act of gross indecency, and one count of common assault on a child, following a week-long trial in the island’s Royal Court last month.
Bailiwick Law Enforcement has now said “it is clear that in the 1980s when this sexual abuse took place, Cotterill was hiding in plain sight; deliberately befriending the families of the children involved to gain access to his victims.”
A spokesperson for BLE acknowledged the “bravery and dedication of the two women who came forward and reported their experiences”.
“They endured a lengthy police investigation and gave evidence in court, resulting in the conviction and imprisonment of Cotterill,” said BLE.
Detective Chief Inspector, Julie Palmer hopes that this conviction will encourage other victims of historic crimes to also speak up.
She said Guernsey Police will always investigate in cases like this.
“No child should ever be subjected to this horrific abuse or have their innocence taken away from them in this way. I hope these convictions serve as an important message to people who have been victims of crimes such as these: if they come forward, regardless of when the offence occurred, we will relentlessly pursue offenders and do our best to bring justice for victims.
“If you or someone you know has been the victim of any form of sexual abuse, please report it to the Guernsey Police at any time, no matter how long after the events.”
You can get in contact with Guernsey Police by calling 999 in an emergency, or online through the website HERE, or by phone calling the non-emergency line on 01481 222222.
Crimestoppers can be called anonymously on 0800 111 111.
