MICHAEL PRITCHARD SENT TO JAIL FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF 14-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN EBBW VALE

In a case that has shocked the community of Ebbw Vale, Michael Pritchard, a 39-year-old former soldier, was sentenced to 18 months in prison after being found guilty of sexually abusing a young girl who was only 14 years old at the time of the assault. The incident, which occurred in 1998, resulted in the girl becoming pregnant and subsequently giving birth to a child, a fact that was revealed years later.

Prosecutor Jennet Treharne outlined the details of the case during a hearing at Cardiff Crown Court. She explained that Pritchard had engaged in indecent assault against the girl, whom he had met and then had sexual relations with. The assault and the subsequent pregnancy came to light when the girl, now living in the Gwent area, was invited by her family to go on holiday. During this trip, she confided in her relatives that she was eight months pregnant, a revelation that prompted further investigation.

The situation escalated when, on New Year’s Eve of the previous year, the girl disclosed the full extent of her ordeal to her father. This disclosure led to Pritchard’s arrest and subsequent charges. The court heard that the girl is currently suffering from depression, a condition that has been linked to the trauma she endured.

During the proceedings, Pritchard’s defense attorney, Christopher Quinlan, acknowledged his client’s remorse. He stated, “To his credit, he has admitted everything. There is no purpose in dealing with the circumstances of the offences. He recognises that what happened was wholly wrong and he is full of remorse and regret.”

Judge John Griffith Williams addressed Pritchard directly, emphasizing the gravity of the offense. “You were 34 and she was 14 at the time,” the judge remarked. “She conceived and gave birth to a child as a consequence. With the DNA evidence, you had no alternative but to plead guilty. The sentence must contain a deterrent element.”

As part of his sentence, Pritchard was ordered to register as a sex offender for a period of ten years upon his release from prison, underscoring the serious nature of his crimes and the ongoing risk he poses to the community of Ebbw Vale.