FARNHAM man Anthony Burbridge has been jailed for 18 yearsafter being found guilty of rape, two counts of assault causing grievous bodily harm and three counts of willful neglect of a child.

Burbridge, 44, of Lower Weybourne Lane, was convicted of the six charges when he appeared at the Central Criminal Court in London last week.

The offences took place in Farnham over an 11-year period between 1996 and 2007 and involved four victims, including three who were children at the time. They came forward in 2016 to report the offences, which included physical and sexual assaults, neglect and psychological abuse.

Following a lengthy and complex investigation, Burbridge was charged with 12 offences and was found guilty of six of these following a three week trial.

Temporary Detective Sergeant Leon Foster, who investigated the offences, said: “Burbridge exposed the victims, which included three children, to several years of abuse and control. The family lived in fear and this prevented those children from enjoying the happy childhood to which they should have been entitled.

“I hope that the sentence given to Burbridge provides some closure to the victims. I also hope that this outcome gives other people who have been or are suffering similar abuse the confidence to come forward, even if the offences occurred years ago, it is never too late to report."