A man from Belfast, convicted of two counts of indecent assault on a female, has been sentenced to a period of imprisonment.

William Sale (50) appeared before Belfast Crown Court at Laganside on Thursday, 20th March and was sentenced to a 14-month custodial sentence. He is subject to a restraining order for five years and required to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for 10 years. He is also disqualified from working with children.

Also in court, Linda Sale (52) who was sentenced to a 12-month term suspended for three years for a single charge of attempting to supply a class A controlled drug to the injured party. 

The abuse occurred when the injured party was aged between 11 and 15. 

Detective Sergeant Knight said: “It takes courage for victims of all crimes, but especially crimes of a sexual nature, to come forward and report to police.

“Now an adult, the victim in this case has been living with the trauma of what happened to her for a large part of her life. Her courage and bravery to come forward to police and then aid us in our investigation should be commended.

“We treat all allegations of sexual offences sensitively and with compassion and have specially trained detectives who ensure victims are listened to, safeguarded and supported from the moment they report. You don’t have to suffer in silence.

“I would continue to encourage anyone who has experienced any form of sexual abuse to contact police, no matter when it occurred. Call 101, or in an emergency always dial 999.”