Man jailed for 22 years for historical sex abuse

A man has been jailed after he was convicted of sexually abusing a young girl across a seven-year period in the 1980s and 1990s.

Ricky Bellion, 60, preyed on his victim after first grooming her aged 10 when she attended swimming sessions in Doncaster.

Bellion, of Washington Road in Sheffield, was sentenced to 22 years in prison on Thursday. He was found guilty of nine charges relating to two victims after a trial at Sheffield Crown Court in November.

In a statement issued through South Yorkshire Police, the victim described Bellion as "sadistic" and said his crimes had crushed "my inner soul and mind".

"To finally get justice, is beyond any words or feelings that I can ever attempt to describe or express," she said.

"The audacity of him to remain acting like an innocent man from the very start of this case, has been insulting, when all along, there were never any doubts about the truth."

The woman told police what had happened in 2019, which prompted a criminal investigation into Bellion. A second victim came forward the same year.

The woman also praised the police for their work in securing Bellion's conviction.

In a letter to Det Sgt Joanna Vine, who worked on the case alongside Det Con Janine Innes, she wrote: "Words will never thank you enough for all the effort this has taken professionally and for all the extra input needed, where it has required the 'above and beyond' efforts to ensure this case reached its conclusion."

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