Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court (Image: Mark Harvey / Alamy)
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A 70-year-old man will spend years behind bars for a series of sexual offences against a girl, committed during the 1980s and only tested before a jury decades later.
The offences
Mohammad Haddad, of Fields Park Road in Newport, was convicted of a number of offences dating from the 1980s, among them attempted rape and indecent assault. His victim was a young girl at the time.
The trial
Haddad rejected the allegations outright and fought the case at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court. Jurors did not accept his account and returned guilty verdicts.
Mitigation
Christopher Rees KC, appearing for Haddad, asked the court to weigh his clean record and his responsibilities at home.
He told the court: “He is a man of previous impeccable character with no convictions.
“The defendant is not in good health and he is the sole carer for his wife.”
The judge’s remarks
Passing sentence, Judge Jeremy Jenkins told Haddad: “You accused the victim of having invented these allegations – nothing could be further from the truth.
“These offences are too serious to be dealt with by anything short of an immediate custodial sentence.
“I do take into account your poor health and the fact you lived an industrious and productive life following the offences.”
Sentencing
The judge imposed an extended sentence of seven years. That comprises a six-year custodial term with a further 12 months on extended licence once Haddad is released. He must serve two-thirds of the six years in prison before becoming eligible for release.
James Evans appeared for the prosecution.
Haddad will remain on the sex offenders’ register for the rest of his life.
