Newport man guilty of 1990s child sex offences

A paedophile has been found guilty after trial of sexually assaulting a schoolgirl in the 1990s.

Richard Downey, 55, from Newport was convicted of two counts of indecently assaulting a girl and one of inciting a girl to commit an act of gross indecency.

The defendant was unanimously found guilty by a jury at Newport Crown Court.

His victim was under the age of 14 at the time of the three offences.

Judge Daniel Williams told Downey, of Lower Road, Llandevaud, following the verdicts: “You have been found guilty of very serious offences. The next stage is for the court to sentence you and I can’t do that without the assistance of the probation service and a pre-sentence report.”

He warned the defendant the report would only go towards determining the length of his jail term.

Downey was denied bail and remanded in custody ahead of sentencing due to take place on Friday, January 23 next year.