A PENSIONER who left a Blackwood woman “anxious, nervous and sick” after he abused her as a teenager in the 1980s has been sentenced to 15 months in prison.

Rachel Shovelton, 42, from Fleur-De-Lis, has bravely waived her right to anonymity in a bid to encourage other victims of sexual abuse to come forward.

Her abuser, Derrick Evans, aged 85, of St Deinols Close, Pengam, was found guilty of three counts of indecently assaulting a girl under 16 at Newport Court Crown last month. He had been on bail.

A trusted family friend, the abuse took place in Evans’ car, when he gave Ms Shovelton a lift to school, and in the sitting room of his home over the course of a month in 1986.

Newport Crown Court heard on Friday that Evans, who lived five doors down from Ms Shovelton’s childhood home in Pengam, was 56 at the time of the abuse while she was just 13.

Andrew Jones, prosecuting, noted that the father-of-two stacked musical folders on a chair so that Ms Shovelton had no other choice but to sit beside him on his settee.

He would then go on to abuse her while his wife tended to a sick neighbour next door as part of her morning routine.

Such was the “profound effect” of the abuse, the court heard Ms Shovelton suffered a nervous breakdown and rarely returned to the family home because Evans was still nearby.

Mr Jones read out a victim impact statement from Ms Shovelton who said she had been unable to “maintain a relationship” and continually felt “anxious, nervous and sick” as a result of the abuse.

She said: “I often think what if and then the anger comes back. Now I’m older and I’ve told my family, I regret not speaking out sooner.

“I hope that it’s finished and after I’ve seen Evans punished in whatever way the court sees fit, I will be able to move forward in my life.”

The court heard Evans had no previous convictions and was previously a well-respected figure in the community, who used to give out communion to the sick.

Defending, Heath Edwards noted that Evans, who turns 87 next month, was extremely deaf and had a “life-threatening” spinal condition.

He said the prospect of prison “terrified” Evans and his wife, with the couple about to celebrate their diamond wedding anniversary.

He said: “He has lived a blame free lifestyle and his reputation is now, of course, in shreds. He faces immediate custody and for a man of his age and his health, it’s pretty onerous.”

Summing up, Judge Jonathan Furness said: “I have accepted that you have lived with the shame of your conduct for all these years.

“But you’ve not been prepared to accept the full extent of your offending and it’s only the verdict of the jury that has meant it has become apparent in the community after all these years.

“Going to prison will not be easy for someone of your current health and age. I accept that you’ve lost your good name in the community you’ve lived in all of your life.”

Evans, wearing a beige jumper, was sentenced to 15 months in prison. He will also be subject of a sexual harm prevention order and a sexual offences notification requirement for 10 years.