A RAPIST has been jailed for 14-and-a-half years, after being found guilty following a week long trial.

Arthur John Bonner, 63, was convicted of four sexual offences at Salisbury Crown Court on Monday. Two of them took place in the early 1970s, one in 1993 and the other in 2014.

The offences, which took place in Salisbury, were rape, buggery of a male under 16, indecent assault of a male, and sexual assault of a female.

Investigating officer Sergeant Nick Bailey said: "This was a very serious and complex case involving sexual offending by Arthur Bonner over four decades.

"He took advantage of the victims' age and vulnerability for his own sexual gratification which was a complete abuse of trust.

"I feel that the sentence imposed reflects the seriousness of the case. I can only imagine the trauma and stress that the victims have had to endure, at the hands of Arthur Bonner.

"I have nothing but respect and praise for the victims and I hope that they can now focus on the future and work on rebuilding their lives."

The jury unanimously found Bonner, of Seaton Grove, Grimsby, (formerly of Salisbury), guilty on all four offences.

Wiltshire Police encourage anyone who has been a victim of a sexual offence to report it on 101, or Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) on 0808 168 0024.

An NSPCC spokesman for South West England said: "Bonner was a serial sex offender, responsible for a series of horrendous offences over a number of decades.

"His vulnerable victims included children, and he acted with no regard for the consequences his despicable actions had on the youngsters.

"Abuse can ruin childhoods and affect individuals into adulthood, so it's vital anyone affected can access the support they need rather than suffer in silence, as sadly so many do."

The NSPCC ChildLine can be contacted on 0800 1111 and is available 24/7 to offer confidential advice. Meanwhile, adults concerned about a child's welfare can call the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000.