August 2013 Three-year jail sentence for man who sexually assaulted a child A man has been jailed for three years for sexually assaulting a child in Cardiff. Ezequiel Blanco, aged 31 and originally from Cuba, had denied the allegation but been convicted by a jury at Cardiff Crown Court. After the child told her family, police examined Blanco’s computer at his home and found images of child abuse/indecency, his trial had heard. Because of his denials, the victim had been forced to give evidence and face cross examination. Passing sentence, Judge Daniel Williams said the evidence she gave had been compelling. He told Blanco, formerly of Mathias Place, Cardiff: “I saw you give evidence too – you are a breathtakingly arrogant man. “The images police found on your computer demonstrate that you have a sexual interest in children.” In mitigation, it was said, there had only been eight indecent images – all of them at the lowest level on the accepted scale of seriousness and there was no evidence of him sharing them with others or distributing them. Defence counsel Jeff Jones also reminded the judge there had been no threats made to the child and the offending had not been prolonged. He said Blanco had lost his job and his accommodation as a result of being remanded in custody following the verdict of the jury some weeks ago. He had denied both the sexual assault and the making and possession of indecent images but had been found guilty of all those charges. Judge Williams told him he had carefully read every word of a victim impact statement made by the victim’s family and it was clear from it, what a profound effect his behaviour had on the little girl. He ordered Blanco’s name be placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register indefinitely and a Sexual Offences Prevention Order was put in place to reduce the risk of future offending. “The order is necessary to protect the public from serious risk of harm,” he said.