February 2011 72-year-old is jailed for “appalling” child sex offences 40 years ago An elderly man has been jailed for five years for “appalling” sexual offences against a child 40 years ago. Brian Dennis Ash, of Millendreath, near Looe in south east Cornwall, had admitted seven counts of indecent assault on his victim – who was under the age of 14 at the time – between 1971 and 1980. But Judge Christopher Elwen took the unusual step of ordering amended charges be put to 72-year-old Ash at Truro Crown Court yesterday, taking into account specific details about his victim’s age. It meant the judge was able to sentence Ash, who also pleaded guilty to the more serious offences, to five years in prison rather than the maximum period of two years which the previous charges would have allowed. Prosecuting, Iain Leadbetter said: “Ash was satisfying his own sick needs. “As his victim reached her teenage years she did not trust people or make friends so she comforted herself by drinking.” Defending Ash, who suffers from severe dementia, Chris Andrews said sending his client to prison would be “the last meaningful act in his life”. Sentencing, Judge Elwen told Ash he had ruined the victim’s life.