A PAEDOPHILE has been jailed for a series of sex offences against children under the age of 13.

Barry Amer, aged 65, of Burwell Meadow, Witney, has been sentenced to 12 years behind bars after being found guilty at Oxford Crown Court on Monday.

Amer was charged with 17 counts in June 2017.

A majority jury found him guilty of nine counts of sexual assault of a child under 13 and three counts of assault of a child under 13 by penetration.

The offences were against four victims and happened between 2008 and 2016.

He was acquitted of one count of indecent assault on an adult, three counts of sexual assault on a child under 13 and one count of causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

Investigating officer, Detective Sergeant Jenny Hanks of the Child Abuse Investigation Unit at Cowley police station, said: “I would like to thank the victims and their families in this case, they have shown great bravery.

“Barry Amer has never taken responsibility for his offending and I hope that the sentence passed finally offers some justice to the victims.

“Thames Valley Police takes all reports of this nature seriously and I would encourage others, who have been victims of such offences, to report this to police.”