A FOUNDING member of Barnsley 1970s' heavy metal band Saxon has been jailed for historic child sexual abuse.

Stephen Dawson, also known as Steve, was sentenced yesterday at Sheffield Crown Court for four counts of indecent assault of a child under the age of 14.

The abuse took place in the early 1990s when the victim was aged just six years old.

Dawson, 72, of Street Lane, Rotherham, was found guilty at an earlier hearing at Sheffield Crown Court on March 21, and on Thursday was sentenced to a five-year custodial sentence.

Detective Constable Robert Heath, who was the officer in charge of this case said: “Stephen Dawson thought he had got away with committing these horrific crimes against a young, vulnerable victim 30 years ago.

“She has shown extraordinary strength through coming forward and throughout the course of the investigation, resulting in Dawson spending a number of years in prison.

“It is clear that his evil acts have remained with her throughout her life, and I hope this sentence goes some way to allowing her to move on from these traumatic events.

“The result of this case demonstrates just how seriously we take these offences. We hope this provides some encouragement that if you have been subjected to any offence, no matter how long ago it happened, to come forward and report it to us. We are here to listen, investigate and bring the perpetrators before courts.”