Cardiff man jailed for historic child sexual offenses

A 63-year-old man from Cardiff has been sentenced for historical sexual offenses. Peter White was found guilty of two counts of gross indecency with a child under 14 following a trial at Cardiff Crown Court. The crimes involved making a young girl, who was under 10 years old at the time, perform a vile sex act, on two separate occasions. The victim, now an adult, provided a heartbreaking impact statement in which she described the long-term effects of the abuse. She explained that she has been diagnosed with anxiety, depression, and an eating disorder since the incidents. She also had to leave a beloved job due to mental health breakdowns, and she expressed that her life 'seemed to halt and freeze' during the three years of investigation and trial. Despite the court's positive outcome, she stated that she still lives with the trauma daily. During the sentencing, defence argued that White was a man of good character with positive references and that an immediate custodial sentence would significantly impact his age. However, the judge, Recorder Caroline Rees KC, acknowledged the serious and lasting impact of White's offending, stating that it had diminished the victim's quality of life and mental health. She explained that if the crimes had been committed in the present day, the starting point would likely have been eight years per offence. Instead, considering the historic nature of the crimes, the maximum sentence allowed was two years per offence. As a result, White was sentenced to 38 months in prison, with half to be served in custody and the other half on license. He was also subject to a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and a 10-year restraining order prohibiting contact with the victim.