Portslade man jailed for sexually assaulting young girls in Hove

A Portslade man has been jailed for a series of sex attacks on four young girls spanning almost 30 years.

Alyn Matless, 71, of Old Shoreham Road, Portslade, was jailed at Lewes Crown Court yesterday (Monday 3 March) to a total of five and a half years.

He was found guilty after a three-day retrial of 21 offences.

They were committed against four girls who were between 3 and 12 years old and known to him over separate periods from 1962 to 1989 in Hove and East Sussex.

Alyn Matless

The offences included indecent assault and gross indecency with a child.

Detective Constable Martyn Milligan, who investigated the case and has now retired from Sussex Police, said: “This was a very distressing series of offences and the victims suffered greatly over many years.

“Their willingness to come forward and support the prosecution, in which they each had to give evidence twice as there was a retrial, contributed in large part to bringing Matless to justice.

“This is another case that shows that offenders of this type can be successfully prosecuted, even after many years.

“We encourage anyone who suffers physical or sexual abuse to come forward, no matter how long after the events.

“You will be able to speak in confidence to experienced detectives who can also arrange access to a range of counselling and other supportive facilities.”