A 39 year old Norwich man was given a ten year custodial sentence today (Friday 4 November) after pleading guilty to a series of sexual offences against children.

Philip Sturdy appeared at Norwich Crown Court facing a total of nine charges of sexual assault of a child under 13, one charge of sexual assault of a child under 16, four offences of taking indecent photographs of a child and three charges of administering a substance with intent.

The offences took place between January 2015 and May 2016.

Sturdy was also given an eight year extension which he is likely to serve on licence and placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

T/Det Insp Dave Freeman, Child Abuse Investigation Unit, welcomed the sentence, saying: ‘’We hope such a result will help to reassure victims that we will always investigate any allegations of sexual abuse thoroughly and as a consequence bring offenders to justice.”

The police investigation began in May this year.

Sturdy was employed as a member of staff by Norfolk Constabulary between May 1998 and April 2016 and therefore did not face any misconduct procedures.