A MAN has been sentenced for sexual assaults on young workers and volunteers at the North Worcestershire kennels he ran.

Alan Sims had international standing in the world of dog training.

He was sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court on Tuesday, September 20, after being found guilty at an earlier hearing of nine counts of sexual assault on girls between 2005 and 2008. He was found not guilty on a further two charges.

He was given a nine-month prison sentence suspended for two years, a two-year supervision order, and ordered to remain on the sex offenders' register for five years.

Sims, aged 72, of Staple Lodge Road, Birmingham, was at the time a director of a North Worcestershire kennels which supplied and trained specialist working dogs all over the world.

The offences were committed at the kennels, where the three female victims, aged between 14 and 17, worked as staff or volunteers. The offences involved kissing, hugging, and inappropriate touching and comments.

DC Kate Terris of West Mercia Police said: “The offences came to light after one young girl started work at the kennels and told her parents Sims had made a ‘pass' at her. Police were contacted and during the course of the investigation, traced other victims.

“For young girls who wanted to work with animals, it must have been a dream come true to be offered a job at a kennels with an international reputation.

“Sims was in a position of trust and clearly abused that.

“Sexual assaults inevitably leave some form of emotional scars for life, and Sims put these children through the further ordeal of having to give evidence in court. We hope now this case is over they will be able to find some peace of mind and be able to move forward with their lives.

“While it should be stressed that crimes of this nature are rare in West Mercia, hopefully this case will reassure people that we robustly pursue all allegations involving sexual assaults.”