Convicted sex offender Nigel Yates, 57, was described by the judge as having “a deviant and unhealthy” interest “embedded in him for teenage and pre-pubescent girls”.

Yates, of Maes Y Coed in Llechryd, Cardigan, appeared at Swansea Crown Court after admitting three offences of sexually assaulting a child in Llangrannog on December 25, 2022.

Helen Randall, prosecuting, said the girl did not tell anyone about the abuse until she was next told they would be going to the defendant’s house.

Giving a statement in court, the victim’s mother said: “I’m still very much in shock about what’s happened.”

She added that although the victim “put on a brave face”, it was clear she had been affected by the abuse.

In interview, Yates denied the offences. He also made disparaging remarks about the victim.

He did plead guilty at the plea and trial preparation hearing.

Yates has four previous convictions for five offences. These include being convicted in 2001 of two offences of indecent assault of two children, making indecent images of children in 2015, and failing to comply with notification requirements – also in 2015.

The court heard that Yates would refuse to disclose his previous convictions to others.

Yates was jailed for 42 months – running concurrently for each offence. He was made the subject of a restraining order and a sexual harm prevention order, each for 10 years. He must register as a sex offender indefinitely.

Nigel Yates, 57, of Llechryd, faced three charges of sexual assault of a child under 13, all dated between December 24 and 26 last year.

All three offences involved the same complainant, who Yates was accused of sexually touching.

At Swansea Crown Court, Yates admitted the charges, which took place in Llangranog.

Prosecutor Helen Randall said the offences all took place on the same night, on three separate occasions.

David Singh, appearing for Yates, applied for a pre-sentence report, but admitted his client was “realistic” about the sentence he faced.

“I will grant the report,” said Judge Paul Thomas. “But Mr Yates must not leave thinking he is out of the woods.

“The fact that he has two relevant previous convictions makes it very difficult for him.”

Judge Thomas set a sentencing date of August 18.

Yates was granted bail, but must register as a sex offender.

February 2015

Photographer built portfolio of indecent images

An amateur photographer from Llechryd built a portfolio of indecent images of children, a judge heard on Friday.

Nigel Wyndham Yates, aged 49, of 13 Maes y Deri, admitted possessing 87 images said to be “more of a the naturist type” than what was usually seen at Swansea crown court.

Police found the images on a computer.

Some of the photographs appeared to have been taken on beaches, added the judge.

Yates had worked as a car park attendant at Poppit Sands and Newport beach.

Judge Heywood said the images had been discovered after police searched Yates’ then home at Glasfor, Llanfrannog.

He had been a keen photographer and was a member of a local camera club. Although police also took away a large amount of camera equipment they did not discover any other indecent photographs.

The images, added Judge Heywood, seemed to be of people posing naked.

He said he noted that Yates’ had a previous conviction for a sexual offence but it was “a long time ago.”

Yates was made the subject of a three year community order and a five year sexual offences prevention order. He was also ordered to register with the police as a sex offender and to pay a £60 government surcharge.