Edward Sherriff 77

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A man who was found guilty of a series of non-recent sexual offences against three children has today (Wednesday, 10 December 2025) been sentenced to 22 years in prison following his appearance at Grimsby Crown Court.

Edward Sherriff, 77-years-old, of Wainfleet Road, Grimsby was found guilty of rape of a child under 13, four counts of sexual assault of a child under the age of 13, two counts of sexual assault of a child under the age of 16, eight counts of indecent assault, three counts of gross indecency assault, and exposure.

An investigation was launched in 2022 when Sherriff came to the attention of officers after we received a report that three individuals had come forward and disclosed that they had been subjected to sexual abuse over a prolonged period of time.

Arrested in June 2022, Sheriff was interviewed by detectives and swiftly denied having any sexual interests in children.

Following a seven-day trial at Grimsby Crown Court, a jury returned a verdict finding Sherriff guilty of 19 sexual offences.

Detective Sergeant Chris Clarke from our Domestic Abuse Investigation Team, who led the case, said:

“While no sentence can truly reflect the trauma and lasting impact of this man’s actions, I hope today’s outcome may provide some closure from an extremely painful journey for the victims and their family.

“Sherrif’s actions are utterly deplorable, a calculated and prolonged abuse of trust against innocent and vulnerable children, spanning more than four decades from 1980 to 2022.

“He deliberately manipulated, threatened, and emotionally abused his victims to silence them, committing sustained abuse that has caused unimaginable harm.

“I’d like to commend the victims for their extraordinary bravery and strength in coming forward and throughout the entirety of the investigation and complex court proceedings.

“Sherriff subjected the victims and their families to a trial, forcing them to relive the horrendous ordeal all over again. Whilst the verdict will not detract from the pain and suffering endured, I do hope it offers some reassurance knowing such a sickening man can no longer cause harm to them or any other child.

“It is never the victim’s fault, and I would strongly appeal for any child who is being manipulated into doing something they don’t want to do, or anyone who suspects crimes of this nature are taking place, to please speak to a trusted adult or friend and report it to us, when you are ready.

“I also want to take a moment to commend Blue Door for their vital work in supporting victims, their ongoing efforts are crucial in helping victims find a voice and access the care they deserve. For anyone seeking further support or information, I encourage you to visit the Blue Door website: www.thebluedoor.org.

“It doesn’t matter if the offences happened five hours or 50 years ago, we take all reports of this nature extremely seriously and will do everything we can to bring predatory offenders like Sherriff to justice.”