DC praised for work in sex abuse case

Detective Constable Gary Hobson was awarded the accolade by Derbyshire Constabulary at their celebrating achievements ceremony, held at police headquarters in Ripley on Monday.

The policeman was praised for his part in a case, which he took on in September 2011, when a 12-year-old girl claimed she had been abused since she was four.

The victim had made previous allegations, which DC Hobson had investigated, but had implicated someone else to protect the abuser.

After conducting comprehensive victim and suspect interviews covering all historical matters, the suspect was charged and remanded in custody.

A Derbyshire Police spokesman said: “Working closely with social care staff, Gary meticulously collected evidence and paper records dating back to 2004.

“His detailed file preparation led to 26 separate charges of rape, sexual assault and making indecent images of a child.”

He added: “The prosecuting barrister said that it was due to the good detective work of Detective Constable Hobson that the defendant had no option but to plead guilty to 22 out of the 26 indictments.”

The offender was sentenced to life imprisonment at Derby Crown Court in May 2012.