June 2007

Paedophile admits to three decades of sex offences

A GWENT paedophile admitted a series of sex offences against young children committed over more than three decades.

Ronald Baker, 60, from Llanhilleth, pleaded guilty to three counts of indecent assault against two girls under 14, one charge of indecency with a child under 16 and another of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

Baker, who had previously pleaded not guilty, changed his plea before the start of his planned trial.

The court heard how Baker first indecently assaulted a youngster between December 10, 1970, and December 11, 1972.

He carried out his second and third indecent assaults against a different young girl between September 15, 1993, and September 16, 1994.

More recently Baker committed an offence of indecency with a child between March 12, 2004, and April 30, 2004.

And between May 2004 and December 2006, Baker incited a child to engage in sexual activity.

David Webster, prosecuting, said one of Baker’s victims, who was assaulted between 1993 and 1994, had been filled with trepidation at the thought of taking the stand at trial.

“It took a very considerable leap of courage even to commit her complaint to writing,” he added.

The judge jailed Baker for five-and-a-half years, of which he must serve at least three-quarters before being released. After his release Baker was told he will remain under supervision on license until his sentence would have ended and then for a further two years.

Baker has also been ordered to join the sex offenders’ register for life. He was also disqualified from working with girls under the age of 18.