A 58-year-old man has been warned to expect a long prison sentence after he was convicted of sexually abusing four young girls over two decades.

Derek Dearing, of Leafield Way, Eccleshill, Bradford, was taken down to the cells at Bradford Crown Court after a jury found him guilty yesterday of all 11 charges against him. Dearing began his catalogue of indecent assault almost a quarter of a century ago.

After the verdicts, Detective Sergeant Stuart Lyons, who led the investigation, warned that the law will catch up with criminals. He told the Telegraph & Argus: “We are pleased Derek Dearing has been convicted by a jury today of these offences, some of which were committed more than 24 years ago.

“As detectives, we care passionately about securing justice for victims of crime and we never consider a case to be unsolved or forgotten, as this conviction demonstrates.

“It has been difficult for the victims here to relive these experiences and they have conducted themselves with great dignity throughout the process.

“We hope today’s verdict will help them find some closure.”

During the trial, Michael Smith, for the Crown, said Dearing molested the first girl when she was aged between nine and 13. He pinned her against a sofa and pushed himself indecently against her on three occasions.

The second girl was indecently assaulted when she was 13. The third, who was eight or nine at the time of the offences in the early 1990s, said Dearing kissed her sexually and indecently assaulted her.

Dearing sexually assaulted the fourth girl when she was seven, between March 2004 and December 2005.

Judge Peter Benson remanded him in custody to be sentenced on August 23.

He told him: “The inevitable sentence in your case will be a substantial period in custody.”