For years they lived with the darkest of secrets... one by one their evil pasts caught up with them

It took years, even decades, for these sexual predators to face justice for their appalling crimes.

But all of them were locked up after their shocking abuse was finally laid bare in court.

Victims bravely stood up to them, to ensure they paid for what they had subjected them to.

Each of them now form part of a growing number of older, historic offenders in British jails - as victims feel more empowered to speak out than they would have done in the past, and police and prosecutors try and redress the wrongs of the past.

Coleman raped and sexually abused a 15-year-old boy during the 1970s.

He plied his victim with alcohol before taking him back to his home and preying on him.

The horrific abuse started when Coleman, now 79, touched the boy inappropriately in the showers.

Coleman bought the boy food and alcohol and pressured him to perform sex acts.

The boy believed the assaults were 'required' if you wanted to become a professional footballer, Bolton Crown Court heard.

The victim stayed quiet about the abuse for decades until he came across an article in 2018, and read that Coleman had been convicted of abusing young boys in the 1980s.

Earlier this month, Coleman was jailed for eight years.

"Your victim told police he knew what was happening was not right but he went along with it as he felt he owed you something," sentencing, Judge Tom Gilbart told Coleman.

"He thought at one stage that this is what happened or this is what was required if you wanted to become a professional footballer."

After a trial, a jury found Coleman guilty of four counts of indecent assault and one count of buggery, charges which would now be equivalent to rape.

Both of Kennedy's victims waited years for justice, and displayed 'incredible bravery'