A SHOPKEEPER has been jailed for another string of historic sex attacks against a victim who learned of his previous crimes in The Argus.

Alyn Matless abused the girl over several years when she was aged between five and 14 in Hove in the 1960s and 1970s.

The 73-year-old, of Old Shoreham Road, Portslade, was handed a ten year jail term while he was in custody already serving a sentence for similar crimes committed in the 1980s.

The latest victim called police after reading a report in this newspaper when he was jailed in 2014.

This month he was found guilty of 15 counts, seven counts of indecently assaulting a girl under 13, seven counts of gross indecency on a girl under 14 and one count of rape of a girl under 16.

At Hove Crown Court he was given a four year sentence for indecent assault, two years for gross indecency and ten years for rape which will run concurrently to a total of ten years.

Previously he was jailed for five-and-a-half-years after carrying out 21 attacks over 37 years in the 1980s. It was more than 20 years after he was reported to police for the abuse against four girls aged three to 12 between 1962 and 1989.

Investigating officer detective constable Leianne Blampied said: "The victim has shown enormous strength coming forward after keeping what happened to her as a child to herself. I would like to praise her for coming forward after so many years and am pleased she was able to see Matless punished and sent to prison for ten years for what he put her through.

"This is another case that shows offenders of this type can be successfully prosecuted, even after more than 40 years. We encourage anyone who suffers physical or sexual abuse to come forward, no matter how long after the events. You will be able to speak in confidence to experienced detectives who can also arrange access to a range of counselling and other supportive facilities."

Matless opened electrical repair shop M&B Domestic Appliances, in Goldstone Villas, in 1983. He was a well-known face in the community – but while befriending his victims’ parents he was secretly abusing the youngsters.

The family of one of his victims said they had been through 20 years of hell as he paraded as an upstanding member of the community.

They watched for years as he appeared to be a friendly businessman who attracted celebrity clients to his shop. It was only when more girls reported him to Eastbourne police two decades later that he was charged.