A Milford Haven man has been jailed for 20 years after admitting to non-recent sexual offences against children spanning 42 years.

Swansea Crown Court heard how Alan Roberts had committed 23 crimes against young girls between 1976 and 2018, with each of his six victims believing they were alone in suffering his abuse.

The 74-year-old, of Picton Road in Hakin, pleaded guilty to 17 counts of indecent assault of a girl under 14, four counts of gross indecent assault with a girl under 14, and two counts of assault of a girl under 14 by touching.

During the court hearing, Judge Catherine Richards said like many survivors of sexual abuse the females in the case had each thought they were the only ones and had endured their ‘lonely suffering’ unaware of the truth.

She said ‘committed paedophiles’ like Roberts were adept at manipulating situations and people in order that they may continue their offending.

In a statement read to the court the mother of a girl whose reporting of her abuse had led to the arrest of Roberts, said her daughter had been ‘sobbing her heart out’ when it was revealed what had happened. She said her daughter thought she might get into trouble for telling someone.

The prosecutor said the offending, which began in the mid-1970s and continued well into the 2010s, happened at a number of different locations across Pembrokeshire.

The court heard the abuse included repeated touching of the girls' vaginas, and for one of the victims, the defendant trying to force his penis into her mouth.

Following the disclosure, police launched an investigation and five other victims were eventually identified. All the victims have been given lifelong legal anonymity.

Dyfed-Powys Police officer DC Paul Kelly said: “The defendant’s offending was over a period of 42 years which is a shocking, prolonging period of abuse, and his 20 year sentence reflects this.

“I would like to thank the six extremely brave victims in this case. They have all shown immense strength of character firstly in reporting the abuse, and also in working with us throughout the investigation.

“This case is an important reminder that justice can be served many years after abuse has taken place.

“I hope the victims and families who have been affected by the actions of Alan Roberts can now try to move on with their lives, and that his sentencing gives them some kind of closure.”