A CHEF has been found guilty of sexually abusing three children around 30 years after carrying out the first of his offences.

Terence Neathey, who worked at RAF Honington, was convicted of assaulting two schoolboys and a schoolgirl on 23 occasions.

Ipswich Crown Court heard how 19 of those attacks, including an attempted rape, were against a boy aged between six and fifteen.

Neathey, who served in the armed forces until he was medically discharged in 1988, indecently assaulted the girl on two occasions between 1980 and 1983 when she was aged seven to nine.

He touched the girl after asking her to sit on his lap and did it again when she stayed with him and his wife at their military home.

Neathey, now 53, of Livermere Road, Troston, near Bury St Edmunds, denied claims that she had confronted him about the assaults in a Lowestoft cafe last year.

The remaining two offences were committed against an eight-year-old boy.

A spokeswoman for Suffolk police today praised the victims for giving evidence after so many years.

She said: “We understand that it is difficult for victims to come forward to come forward in these circumstances but when they do they will receive full suport from the police.

“We are pleased with the result and pleased that this now gives the victims some piece of mind.”

The judge directed the jury to return not guilty verdicts in relation to two of the indecency charges against the first boy.

During the trial, the court heard how Neathey used a pair of tights to tie up and gag one of the schoolboys. It was claimed he had also taken part in sexual activity with two of the boys at the same time.

The offences took place while he was living in Evergreen Road, Lowestoft, and Tedder Close, Barham.

The female victim came forward after one of the schoolboys made a complaint to police.

Neathey denied all of the charges, claiming the three victims were lying. He is due to be sentenced on May 27.