Ebbw Vale teen admits sex offences against girls (From South Wales Argus)

Ebbw Vale teen admits sex offences against girls

3:10pm Friday 1st February 2013 in News

A TEENAGER who sexually assaulted two girls aged under 12 has been sent to a young offender institution.

Jordan Penny, now 18, of Emlyn Avenue, Ebbw Vale, admitted touching the girls.

James Wilson, prosecuting at Cardiff Crown Court, said one victim told her mother Penny had tickled her before touching her indecently.

Penny was arrested but denied anything happened, and no action was taken. Two days later Penny helped a seven-year-old climb a tree and assaulted her. She told her mum a “big boy” asked her to kiss him and touched her indecently. Penny was arrested and a police officer reported him saying, “I’ve touched a girl again.”

Penny denied assaulting the second victim but changed his plea during trial. He had admitted assaulting the first girl. The court heard Penny breached a Youth Rehabilitation Order imposed in 2011 after he sexually assaulted two teen girls when he was 16.

Andrew Jones, for Penny, said: “He is simply a young man who needs a lot of help.”

Judge Eleri Rees sentenced Penny to eight months for assaulting the first victim; 16 months for assaulting the second girl; and six months for each victim from 2011, to be served concurrently. Five months spent on remand will count tow