Jail for paedophile (72) guilty of 16 child sex offences

Pensioner Ralph Gwynne (72) was convicted of nine offences of indecent assault of a child, six offences of sexual activity with a child and one of taking indecent pictures of a child.

Nottingham Crown Court heard that Gwynne, of Willow Close, Bramley, touched one of his victim’s private parts at his home between September 1985 and March 1986.

He also touched another girl sexually and took indecent pictures of her when they were both in his car while it was parked in a layby between 2010 and 2012.

The court heard the victims have been subjected to nightmares, flashbacks and anxiety because of what Gwynne had done.

As he sentenced Gwynne on Friday, Honour Judge Steven Coupland, said: “You were somebody who took every opportunity you could to get away with it and abuse them for your own sexual gratification.

“She [the girl who was abused between 2010 and 2012] is subjected to anxiety that continues until this day. I am satisfied there are lasting effects because of what you did to her.”

Gwynne was banned from having any unsupervised contact or communication with a female child under the age of 16, unless it is unavoidable, or with the consent of the child’s parent or guardian and the approval of social services.

The judge told him he must not live or sleep in the same dwelling as any female child under the age of 16 or seek or undertake any employment, including voluntary work, whether for payment or otherwise which is likely to allow him unsupervised access to a female child under the age of 16.

Det Con Rachael Burgin, who led the investigation, said: “I am extremely happy with the verdict we have been able to achieve and Gwynne is now rightly behind bars where he can cause no further harm.

“An investigation was launched into Gwynne, who refused to take responsibility for the abuse he inflicted on his victims for his own sexual gratification, in January 2015 after the historic abuse was reported to police. He has now been found guilty of the crimes he committed and is being punished for his despicable actions.

“I would like to praise all of the victims for having the courage to come forward and report the abuse they suffered as children.

“South Yorkshire Police are committed to achieving justice for victims who have suffered from sexual abuse and I would like to encourage anyone who is, or has been a victim to please come forward and report it to police.

“If you would like to report anything to police, please do not hesitate to contact us on 101. You can also call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”