Two men from Chelmsford received substantial sentences today (March 8) at Chelmsford Crown court for sexual offences against children.

Shane Holley, 45 of Broomfield Road was sentenced to 16 years imprisonment for the rape of a boy and eight years for the attempted rape of a girl. He was further sentenced for six counts of sexual assaults combined against both children. The sentences will run concurrently.

John Burr, 74 of Shelley Road was sentenced along with Holley to six years imprisonment for aiding and abetting rape and sexual assault of the boy for which he received two years imprisonment to run concurrently.

Dc Tony Arthur for the child abuse investigation team said: “These were particularly nasty assaults that took place over a number of years. Holley took advantage of both children and relied on their vulnerability not to tell an adult what was happening.”