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Life behind bars for child killer who sexually abused young girls

Latest news in Yorkshire: September 01, 2017 12:46:29 PM

A convicted child killer who went on to sexually abuse young girls is back behind bars for life, following a two-year investigation by Barnsley detectives.

Michael Waters, 78, previously of Bridgwater, Somerset will spend the rest of his life in prison, after being given a life sentence at Sheffield Crown Court for nine counts of sexual offences, including attempted rape.

“Waters is an extremely dangerous individual who, since the age of 21, has committed inexplicably horrendous crimes, showing no remorse and going on to reoffend,” said Detective Constable Andy Anstey, the investigating officer.

“Having already served 30-years behind bars previously, and now in his late 70s, I’m confident that Waters will spend the rest of his life in jail, which is undoubtedly where he belongs due to the danger he poses.”

The result comes following a lengthy and extremely complex investigation by Barnsley detectives, which began in 2015 when one of Waters’ victims, a young girl from Barnsley, came forward to report what had happened to her.

DC Anstey explains: “A referral was made to us in 2015 after the victim disclosed that during the 1970s she was sexually abused by Waters over a number of years.

“The victim, who was under 14 at the time the abuse began, was terrified of Waters, who preyed on her innocent nature and took advantage of her, going on to sexually assault her at any opportunity he had.

“Waters had an allergy to oranges and the victim was so petrified of him that she carried an orange with her, which she would begin to peel in a bid to deter him every time he came near her.

“On one occasion the victim believes she would have been raped by Waters, had he not been disturbed as he abused her one evening, subjecting her to yet another horrifying ordeal.”

Following the disclosure, detectives in Barnsley began a thorough investigation, gathering witness statements and evidence from people across the world.

As detectives interviewed witnesses and looked in to Waters’ background, they discovered he had been convicted of murdering a nine-year-old girl in Liverpool in 1959. Waters served just ten years of his sentence before he was released, moving to the West Yorkshire area. He was recalled to prison in the late 80s and released in 2015, when South Yorkshire Police began investigating and unearthed a catalogue of abuse.

DC Anstey said: “During our enquiries a second victim, a young girl also under the age of 14 at the time of the abuse, came forward from the West Yorkshire area.

“This victim endured two years of horrific sexual abuse at the hands of Waters, robbing her of years of her young life.

“Thankfully, down to evidence given by the two victims and countless witnesses we were able to charge Waters with one count of attempted rape and eight counts of indecent assaults on girls under the age of 14.”

“I honestly cannot praise the victims enough for coming forward and giving evidence, telling us what happened to them all those years ago. No matter how long ago abuse is said to have occurred, we will always look into it thoroughly and aim to bring these sick-minded criminals to justice.

“Throughout the two-year investigation we were determined to see him put back behind bars for the rest of his life and I’d like to thank the victims once again for supporting us throughout this investigation, without their help, this would not have been possible and they are truly remarkable women.”

Waters pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing and was given life imprisonment on Monday 14 August.

If you have any concerns, or would like to report an incident, please call 101 or the national child sexual exploitation line, Say Something, on 116000.

Yorkshire Photography