Sex pest aged 70 jailed for a year

A 70-year-old man has been jailed for sexual assaults on young girls.

Richard John Gamble, of Lime Grove, Sidemoor, Bromsgrove, was jailed for a year at Hereford Crown Court after pleading guilty to five charges of sexual assault on young girls.

He was also yesterday ordered to serve three-and-a-half years on licence and to remain on the sex offenders' register indefinitely.

The offences happened over a 20-year period.

Dc Liz Northcott, of Bromsgrove Police Station, said: "Gamble befriended the victims' parents and was entrusted with babysitting their children.

"He encouraged the children to come back to his flat to see his pet birds, and gave them money for sweets.

"Gamble put these girls through a terrible ordeal, which has had a lasting effect on them, and on their families, who are devastated," she went on to say.

"The victims were faced with the further ordeal of having to give evidence at court and it was only at the last minute that they were spared this when Gamble changed his plea to guilty.

"We hope the victims will now find some peace of mind and be able to move forward with their lives. We believe it is very likely there are other victims who have not come forward,"the officer added.