Gorseinon teen jailed for targeting elderly women

A Swansea teenager who targeted elderly and vulnerable women by pretending to be a masseuse and window cleaner has been jailed for seven years.

Jimmy Tawse, 18, of Penyrheol Road, Gorseinon, preyed on four women – two aged 89, one aged 85, and a 63-year-old housebound woman – gaining entry to their homes before committing sexual offences.

Swansea Crown Court heard how on 15 May, Tawse visited two 89-year-old women living alone. He told the first victim he was a therapist and instructed her to go to the bedroom where he told her to remove her top and bra before sexually assaulting her. He then claimed he was a sexual therapist who had gone to the wrong address.

The victim said in a statement: “It has impacted me in an emotional way. I don’t want to leave the house and feel like people could be watching me in case I go out. I know he is in prison but I just feel like I might see him again. I blame myself for this happening to me. I used to go for walks regularly but now I keep myself to myself because I am worried I will see him again.”

Tawse then drove to another house where he told a second 89-year-old woman he was a masseuse sent by her GP. He asked her to go to the bedroom and remove her shirt, claiming it was a “body to body” massage and he had come from Mumbles for it. She refused and he left.

She said: “My confidence has been knocked massively. I’m lucky if I get two hours sleep but before this incident I was okay. I rely a lot on my family. I feel anger at what happened. I have been off my food and lost weight because of this. It has had a terrible impact on me.”

On 20 June, Tawse approached an 85-year-old woman claiming to be the son of her window cleaner. After she paid him £55, he followed her inside and asked if she would “feel his lump” as he gestured towards his groin.

The following day, he visited a housebound 63-year-old woman, claiming someone had paid £55 for a massage and “it would be a shame for it to go to waste”.

The victim said: “I would not have expected this to happen. I am in constant fear I will see him again as he now knows where I live. I don’t believe I deserve to be exploited by anyone and I can’t be comfortable in my own home.”

Tawse also assaulted a police officer in February after asking to be taken into custody following a disagreement with his parents.

The court heard Tawse was 17 when he met the first two victims and had left school at 12 years old. He pleaded guilty to trespassing with intent to commit a sexual offence, sexual assault, fraud, and assault of an emergency worker.

Judge Geraint Walters said: “They are very serious and concerning offences particularly in the case of a man as young as you. Very very troubling indeed.”

Tawse was sentenced to seven years in detention with four years custodial. Judge Walters also ordered indefinite restraining orders for all victims and ordered Tawse to register as a sex offender. A sexual harm prevention order will be dealt with in a fortnight.