December 2006

Man walks into police station to admit sex attack

A FORMER steelworker walked into a police station and admitted sexually abusing a young girl more than 30 years ago, a court heard.

Robert Taylor, 64, of no fixed abode, was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to eight counts of indecent assault and gross indecency.

Newport Crown Court heard Taylor abused the girl who was aged under 13.

He only admitted the offences in September after being confronted by the victim’s family.

John Probert, prosecuting, said: “She (the victim) told her husband about the abuse she suffered as a child.

“He was confronted with the allegation while he was with his wife.

“There was an argument and as a result, the defendant went into the police station in Pontypool and admitted abusing her.”

The court heard that the offences were committed in the Risca and Pontypool areas more than 30 years ago.

Ian Bennett, defending, said the case would have never reached court if Taylor, who was living in a tent before being remanded in custody, had not walked into the police station.

“Without this admission he would not be in this position,” he said.

“He pleaded guilty at the first opportunity. When he’s served his sentence he will have to pick up the pieces of his life.”

Sentencing him, Judge William Gaskell described the offences as “significant abuse of a vulnerable child”.

“The victim is still unable to describe what you did to her,” he said. “The unusual feature of the offences is that you went into a police station and admitted what you had done.”

Taylor will also have to sign a sex offenders’ register for the rest of his life and was banned from working with children.