Newport sex predator, 79, escapes prison term

Ronald Price kissed, hugged and showered gifts upon a young teenage girl at his Newport home, Shrewsbury Crown Court was told.

Four years later he drove a woman in her late teens to a hotel in Much Wenlock and attempted to kiss her.

He had met the woman in 2010 at a pub where she was working and lured her into a meeting after claiming he had contacts who could help the film and theatre studies student.

Price, of Wenlock Drive, Newport, had admitted charges of sexual assault and attempted sexual assault at a previous court hearing.

Mr Glyn Samuel, prosecuting, said both victims had been left in "floods of tears" as a result of Price's behaviour towards them, while the parents of the younger girl said what he had done amounted to "almost grooming".

Mr Simon Rogers, for Price, said his client had never been in trouble with the police before and was suffering from a number of health problems.

Price appeared at court to be sentenced, where Judge Peter Barrie told him: "You are somebody who still has no insight or understanding what it is like to be a young girl having to fend off inappropriate behaviour.

"What it is like to be a barmaid, faced with the sort of persistent attention you paid her which she did not want.

"It can be quite difficult to deal with and can make people quite upset.

"I still don't think you really understand what it is like when put in that position, how difficult it is to say no.

"This is really serious bad behaviour towards young people who look up to you as a respected senior citizen, and have a right to expect better from you.

"This sort of predatory behaviour towards young women has to stop, whether you think it is harmful or not, it has to stop."

Price was sentenced to a three-year community order. He will be supervised by the probation service throughout and have to attend a sex offender group work programme.

He was also made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for 10 years which will prevent him working or having any contact with children, and ordered to pay £500 compensation each to the two victims.