August 2010 Man molested underage girls A 64-year-old man was sentenced to three years in prison yesterday after pleading guilty to indecent assault on under age girls. Dason Edwards, of Grays Gardens, Machen, admitted six counts of indecent assault involving three different girls. Newport Crown Court heard yesterday how some of the offences dated back to the 1970s. Edwards denied the allegations when he was first arrested in October 2008 but later admitted the charges two days before the case was about to go to trial. The court heard how Edwards had indecently touched one girl’s bottom on two occasions. On another occasion, Edwards indecently assaulted another girl. When she told him to leave her alone, he said he was lonely. Dr Jon Holmes, for Edwards, said he is a man of previous good character. He said Edwards was deeply ashamed and embarrassed about what happened. Judge Eleri Rees said there are worse cases than this but said the impact varies according to the individual. She said the offences have affected the three girls well into their adult lives. Judge Rees noted the absence of any violence or threats by Edwards but said he had taken advantage of the girls’ naivety. Edwards was sentenced to three years in prison, was given a sex offending prevention order and made toregister on the sex offenders’ register for life.