A BLACKWOOD man was jailed for four years yesterday for sexually abusing a young girl over a five-year period.

Ross Kalies, 53, of Pengam Street, admitted four counts of indecent assault, six counts of indecency with a child, two counts of sexual activity with a child and two counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

Cardiff crown court heard the girl was aged under 12 when the offences took place, which had a "devastating" impact on her life.

Hywel Hughes, prosecuting, told the court a police investigation was launched into the offences after Kalies confided in a work colleague last year.

In January, Kalies denied all the charges apart from one count of sexual activity with a child and was due to stand trial in May.

The court heard he failed to attend and police discovered he had fled to Pembrokeshire, where he was sleeping rough.

He was arrested and later pleaded guilty to the other charges.

Judge William Gaskell sentenced him to four years in prison for two of the indecent assaults and two years for the remaining two counts, two years for each of the six indecency charges, two years for each of the two counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and three-and-a-half years and four years for the two charges of sexual activity with a child. He also handed him a 28-day sentence for absconding.

The sentences will all run concurrently.

Judge Gaskell said: “Young girls who are sexually abused in this way do suffer serious harm.

“It may be that the scars are not apparent on their bodies, scarring and damage is done to their emotinal and psychological state.”

Kalies will undergo a sexual offender treatment programme, must register as a sex offender for life and can never work or live with children.