KEITH GASSON FROM EGHAM AND LLANEDYRN SENTENCED FOR CHILD ABUSE IN CARDIFF

In a case that has shocked the local communities, Keith Gasson, a 67-year-old man with ties to both Egham in Surrey and Llanedeyrn in Cardiff, has been sentenced to a total of 14 years in prison for a series of heinous child abuse offenses committed during his time living in Cardiff.

Gasson was found guilty of 18 separate charges, including indecent assault, acts of indecency with a minor, and a charge of rape. The court heard that he had exploited his reputation and religious standing to conceal his abusive actions, effectively using his respectability as a shield to carry out these horrific crimes.

The judge at Cardiff Crown Court, Philip Richards, emphasized the severity of Gasson’s actions, stating that there was significant doubt about whether either of his victims would ever fully recover from the trauma inflicted upon them. The court was told that the abuse took place over a period of more than eight years, with the incidents occurring in Gasson’s home in Llanedeyrn.

During the trial, it was revealed that Gasson, a retired civil servant, had denied all charges. Despite his denials, the evidence presented was compelling enough to secure a conviction. One of the victims, now in her 30s, provided her testimony via video link. She recounted that the abuse began when she was just four years old and continued until she reached the age of ten. She also disclosed that Gasson had groped her breasts when she was an adult, indicating a pattern of predatory behavior extending beyond childhood.

The second victim, who was still in primary school at the time of the abuse, came forward after reading about the case in her local newspaper. She approached police in 2005 but hesitated to press charges initially, fearing that her claims would not be believed. Her courage to come forward played a crucial role in bringing Gasson to justice.

Judge Richards condemned Gasson’s actions, highlighting how he exploited his religious family image—his family was known for praying twice daily, discussing the Bible over dinner, and attending church three times every Sunday—to hide his sinister deeds. The judge made it clear that such abuse, especially when cloaked in respectability, must be met with the harshest penalties.

As a result, Gasson was sentenced to five years for the abuse of the first girl and an additional nine years for the crimes against the second girl, reflecting the gravity of his offenses and the court’s commitment to punishing such egregious violations of trust and innocence.