May 2016 Man who ‘persistently’ sexually assaulted young girls is jailed for 15 years A man who “persistently” sexually assaulted young girls has been jailed for 15 years. Terry Christopher, 68, from Oakfield Terrace, Tonypandy , was found guilty of attempted rape and 19 counts of indecent assault, with some incidents dating back to the 1960s. Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court heard his offences included sexually touching young girls and forcing a girl to touch him. Alex Greenwood, defending Christopher, said he has been in and out of hospital due to diabetes. He said: “A lengthy custodial sentence could be one from which he does not emerge.” Judge Richard Twomlow said: “There are numerous sexual assaults over a number of years. “It was a persistent bullying course of conduct.” The judge said that on one occasion Christopher gave alcohol to a young girl and sexually assaulted her. He told Christopher: “You have shown no remorse whatsoever. Everybody has had to give evidence.” One of his victims spoke after the hearing about the impact the abuse had on her life. “I have suffered with depression, anxiety and panic attacks and I couldn’t communicate with people,” she said. “The abuse went on for seven years and he was going from child to child. “I thought it was my fault that he was doing what he was doing. He bought me things and I was petrified. A 15-year sentence isn’t enough for all the charges against him.” The woman said she kept the abuse to herself for years until another one of his victims spoke out. She said: “When I talked about it for the first time I cried and cried. I kept it from everyone, including my partner, and I’m glad that now I don’t have to live a lie.” Christopher was also given a Sexual Harm Prevention Order preventing him from having any contact with any female child under the age of 16.