March 2020 Paedophile Michael Hillitt jailed for 21 years at Cardiff Crown Court An “irredeemable paedophile” has been sentenced to 21 years in jail after being found guilty of a string of rape and child sexual abuse charges. Michael Hillitt, 69, denied 32 offences but was convicted and sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court. In a court statement, one victim said: “Everything was a struggle and I didn’t have a clue when he was going to assault me next.” The court heard Hillitt’s “sexual deviance” spanned six decades. Among the offences, Hillitt, from Cwrt Dowlais, Cwmbran, Torfaen, was convicted of rape, attempted rape, causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, sexual assault of a child under 13, causing a child to watch a sexual act, engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child and sexual activity with a child. Judge Daniel Williams said Hillitt’s crimes were uncovered when one of his victims told a nurse on a psychiatric ward about the abuse. “Through shame and embarrassment the assaults were not disclosed for many years,” he said. The court heard Hillitt had also been convicted for a serious sexual offence on a nine-year-old boy in 1968. “Your sexual deviance spans six decades. You are an irredeemable paedophile,” said Judge Williams. He made Hillitt the subject of a sexual harm prevention order for life. And he praised the bravery of Hillitt’s victims for coming forward.