February 2014
Pensioner Is Jailed for Decades-Old Sex Offences
A PENSIONER has been jailed for 21 months for six sex offences committed three decades ago.
Christopher Cronin, of Second Avenue, Trecenydd in Caerphilly, had denied the charges of indecent assault but was found guilty after a trial at Cardiff Crown Court last month.
Sentenced to 21 months at Newport Crown Court, Cronin’s offences were committed on a teenage girl during the early 1980s, when she was between the ages of 10 and 14.
They included instances of sexual touching of the victim as well as two more forceful offences of holding her down on a sofa and pressing her up against the wall
It was these two offences which carried the longer sentences of 21 months each, which will run concurrently with each other as well as with the oneyear sentence for the four other offences.
The victim was warned by Cronin that no-one would believe her if she told what had happened.
Judge William Gaskell summed up and said: “She described how your offending against her became more forceful as you pressed her down on a sofa. She was quite clearly frightened. She felt overpowered as you pressed yourself on top of her and held her down.
“She told you that you were hurting her and to get off, and there were two more occasions when you behaved like that. You made it clear to her that she wouldn’t be believed.”
Judge Gaskell added that Cronin’s failure to recognise the effect his behaviour had on the victim, and what he did, was an attempt to “protect his own status in the eyes of his family and friends”.
On charges one to four of indecent assault, Cronin was sentenced to one year for each, but to serve them concurrently.
On charges five and six he was given a sentence of 21 months for each, also to be served concurrently.
The sentences will run concurrently with each other.
January 2014
Pensioner faces jail for 1980s sex abuse
A pensioner is facing jail for sexual offences he committed three decades ago.
Christopher Cronin, 71, denied the allegations but was found guilty of six counts of indecent assault following a trial at Cardiff Crown Court.
The jurors were in retirement for almost four hours before reaching their verdicts by a majority of 11 to one.
Defence counsel Jeffrey Jones said Cronin of Second Avenue, Caerphilly, had health issues.
Judge William Gaskell said sentence would be adjourned for necessary reports but he told Cronin that while he was allowing him bail until the next hearing that did not mean he would escape a prison term.
“I don’t want you to be under any illusion”, he said. “You will face a prison sentence and I want you to come back prepared for that.
“Do not think because you are getting bail now that you do not face custody because you do”.
The offences were committed during the 1980s.
