A NEWPORT man who pretended he was a bodyguard for Charlotte Church was jailed for 15 months for indecently assaulting three young girls in his flat.

Graham Anthony Ford, 55, of Beaufort Road, St Julians, pleaded guilty to five counts of indecent assault involving 12 to 15 year-olds.

Jane Rowley, prosecuting, said that in September, 2003 concerns were raised about young girls attending Ford's flat.

She said that when detectives asked Ford if he thought tickling the girls on or near his bed was appropriate he replied: "When you put it to me as policemen, no it's not, but the playfighting and tickling in my flat is totally innocent."

He admitted lying to the girls by saying he used to be singer Charlotte Church's bodyguard, but said there was nothing sexual between him and the girls, "just fun things."

Ford also told officers he had mental problems and fantasised about being more important than he was.

Marion Lewis, defending, said the offences were not the most serious type of indecent assault and that Ford had no previous convictions.

Sentencing Ford at Newport Crown Court, Judge Christopher Llewellyn-Jones QC said: "It is necessary when persons appear before the courts for offences committed not against one but three young children, that the court makes those sentences not only as punishment but as a deterrent to others."

He said the atmosphere in his flat was "clearly sexually orientated." "You did encourage young persons to come to your flat. At that flat you indulged firstly in conversations which were wholly inappropriate to their age, in particular sexual conversations.

"And it is plain there were photographs on the walls wholly inappropriate to their age.

"You abused your position in respect of three of those young girls." He sentenced Ford to 15 months imprisonment for each offence, to run concurrently, and an extended licence period of three years.

Ford was ordered to register as a sex offender for ten years and was disqualified from working with children for life.