Frank Williams 79

Description

A "narcissistic misogynist" indecently assaulted a preschool-aged girl by kissing her with his tongue and told her the abuse was "our secret". The victim said the incident had affected her throughout her life.

Frank Williams, 78, of Abercwmboi, near Aberdare, was described as a "difficult man" by his own barrister after being convicted of indecent assault following a trial. A sentencing judge said there was "0% prospect of rehabilitation" in his case and his pre-sentence report was "full of misogyny and bile".

Addressing a sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court Judge Shoman Khan said: "You sexualised a little girl... who thought what you were doing was normal. [The victim's statement] is compelling and the lifelong consequences for her are all too predictable."

The court heard Williams put on music while abusing his victim in the 1990s. He pulled her towards him before kissing her while using his tongue. He told her not to tell anyone and that it was something between them and "our secret". The victim felt "scared" and did not know why he had kissed her but she did what he told her.

In a victim personal statement, she said the abuse had "affected her whole life" and she has received counselling. She said she had suffered nightmares, had no confidence, felt shame, and had mental health issues. As a result of the incident she has struggled to build relationships and has difficulty with trust.

Judge Khan commended the victim's "bravery" in speaking out later in life and said these were words he "could not forget". Addressing the defendant the judge said: "If you had any decency or humility you may have reflected on those words she said in the trial. You may have thought about whether you're the route cause of her difficulty."

In mitigation defence barrister Stephen Thomas acknowledged his client, of Bronallt Terrace, was a "difficult man" with "fixed views on life and society", which he attributed to his generation. He said the defendant was a man of previous good character it was an isolated incident and there had been a period of decades since the offence.

Williams was sentenced to two years imprisonment and will serve half the sentence in custody before he is released. He was made subject to an indefinite restraining order and a sexual harm prevention order and sex offender notification requirements for 10 years.