A CONVICTED paedophile from Newport was today given an indeterminate prison sentence for sexually assaulting a girl under six.

Malcolm Hewitt, 53, a lorry driver, was also barred from working with children for life and having any unsupervised contact with under 18s, but he could be assessed for release in just three years.

Judge Neil Bidder told Hewitt he posed a high risk of harm to young girls.

The court heard Hewitt lured his victim with sweets and a kitten before repeatedly assaulting her.

He will not be eligible for consideration for parole for three years, minus the 139 days he has already served.

Hewitt had been found not guilty of raping the girl on the direction of Judge Neil Bidder at Newport Crown Court last month, due to a lack of evidence.

But he was found guilty by unanimous verdict of two charges of indecently touching a child under 13 and one charge of inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

After the guilty verdicts were returned, it was revealed Hewitt was a convicted paedophile on the sex offenders' register.

In June 1998 at Wolverhampton Crown Court, he was convicted of indecent assault of a female under 14 and three offences of gross indecency with three different girls aged between seven and 14.

Outside court last month, the father of Hewitt's latest victim said he intended to sue Gwent Police.

He said: "The police were supposed to be visiting every six months and keeping tabs on him.

"Nothing was ever said to us about him. I want some answers."

Gwent Police last month confirmed Hewitt was being monitored and that he was on the sex offenders register.

A spokeswoman said: "This crime is a tragedy for the little girl and her family and Gwent Police welcomes the findings of the court following this thorough and difficult investigation.

"Owing to the understandable public concern that exists over cases such as these, Gwent Police decided at an early stage to voluntarily refer the matter to the IPCC who will be considering the actions of Gwent Police in our dealings with Mr Hewitt prior to this offence."

The extent of Hewitt's supervision was referred to the IPCC for investigation in May, but details only emerged after his trial ended.