An alleged Paedophile from Guernsey, Michael Derek Cotterill, is currently on trial for purported previous sexual offences involving elementary school-aged children.
Michael Cotterill, aged 82, presented himself before the Royal Court of Guernsey on Monday, January 6, 2025.
He is confronting eight accusations for purported offences occurring between 1988 and 1991.
The two complainants were both of elementary school age at the time of the purported acts.
The charges include:
Two counts of indecent assault
Five counts of inciting children to commit acts of gross indecency
One count of common assault
Michael Cotterill has denied all charges.
UPDATE 27.02.25
A PAEDOPHILE from Guernsey, Michael Derek Cotterill, has been incarcerated for a series of grave historical sexual offences against two children, one beginning at the age of seven.
Michael Derek Cotterill, 82, received a sentence of eight years and ten months in prison from the island’s Royal Court for his conduct in the 1980s.
The text pertains to a week-long trial in January during which Cotterill was convicted of two charges of indecent assault, five counts of inciting a child to engage in acts of extreme indecency, and one case of common assault against a minor.
An inquiry was initiated regarding Cotterill in June 2022 after Guernsey Police received an allegation from a lady in her 40s alleging that she had been sexually molested by him between the ages of seven and nine.
Another lady emerged during the investigation of these charges, claiming she had also been sexually molested by Cotterill at the age of 12; the two women were previously unacquainted.
The court determined that Michael Derek Cotterill intentionally befriended the relatives of the children he was molesting to facilitate his access to them.
Regarding the case, Detective Chief Inspector Julie Palmer stated: “No child should ever endure such horrific abuse or have their innocence stripped away in this manner.”
I trust that these convictions convey a significant message to individuals who have suffered from such crimes: if they step forward, irrespective of when the incident transpired, we will diligently investigate perpetrators and strive to achieve justice for victims.
“If you or an acquaintance has experienced any form of sexual abuse, please report it to the Guernsey Police at any time, regardless of the elapsed duration since the incidents.”
The force expressed gratitude to both ladies for their courage in coming forward and providing testimony in court following an extensive investigation.
If you or anyone you know have been affected by the people highlighted in this article, then please report those individuals to the Police on 101 (999 if an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details of the options for reporting a crime. You can also make a report at Crimestoppers should you wish to be completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.