Dean Clark. Norfolk Constabulary photograph

A Norwich man has been jailed for six years for a series of “very serious” sexual assaults on children.

Dean Clark, 33, of Barclay Road, off Woodside Road, appeared for sentencing at Norwich Crown Court yesterday.

He had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to six counts of sexual assaults.

The offences were carried out over a number of years on a boy aged between 12 and 15 and on a girl aged 16 and 17.

Sentencing him, Recorder Gordon QC said that while he recognised Clark’s risk of reoffending was low, he added: “This remains a very serious series of offences. The consequences to young people of assaults of this kind simply cannot be calculated. That’s what makes offences of this kind so serious.”

Clark was also handed a sexual offences prevention order to run until further notice, and barred from working with children indefinitely.

Earlier, prosecutor, Lindsay Cox said that matters came to the police’s attention on October 16 last year and Clark was arrested on October 27.

In interview Clark denied the sexual assaults and he pleaded not guilty to four of the charges. But he changed his plea 10 days before a trial was due to be held.

In mitigation, John Farmer said that while the defendant had been in denial, he now recognised the implications of what he had done.

Mr Farmer added: “He is not a man without remorse, and he has been left a very isolated person.”

Afterwards, Detective Sergeant Frances Cable said: “Dean Clark is a repeat offender and he will now spend several years in prison for carrying out this abuse. Norfolk Constabulary takes all reports of child abuse seriously, whether current or historic, with a dedicated team in place to investigate all allegations and safeguard children with our partners. I commend Clark’s victims for having the courage to come forward and report what he had done, and I hope today’s sentencing can help them move forward.”