Abergavenny paedophile is jailed for 15 years for attacks on girl

Phillip House, 59, raped the young girl five times, committed gross indecency against her twice and indecently assaulted her four times, a court heard.

The young girl was psychologically scarred by the abuse and left with feelings of terror, Cardiff Crown Court heard.

House, of Brecon Road, Abergavenny, was convicted following a six-day trial at Newport Crown Court last month.

Judge Philip Richards told him: “I have to sentence you for an appalling catalogue of crimes, 11 in total, to reflect some of the abuse which you committed against her. You dreadfully abused her.

“I have to pass a sentence which deters others from behaving in the same sort of way as you did. I also have too pass a sentence which makes some compensation for all the psychological damage which Iamquite satisfied you did and which caused her feelings of terror.”

Defence barrister, David Pinnell, said in mitigation that his client had been diagnosed with depression a year ago and had been taking medication for it while on remand.

He added that House had suffered ailments including a chest infection and had one half of his lungs removed.

Mr Pinnell said his client had stopped working four years ago because of his health and would need to have hip replacements owing to arthritis, adding he was also due to undergo an exploratory operation for pains on his lower spine.

Judge Richards sentenced House to 15 years for five counts of rape.

He also gave him five years for one count of indecent assault and ten years for three further counts of indecent assault, all to run concurrently.

House was also given four years for two counts of indecency with a child, also to run concurrently.

Judge Richards said he would have to serve half his sentence in prison before he could be released.

House was also barred from working with children for life and made the subject of a Sexual Offences Prevention Order stopping him from coming into contact with children under 16.