THE victims of a Gwent paedophile who sexually assaulted young girls over three decades say it had a devastating effect on their lives.

We reported yesterday how Ronald Baker, 60, Llanhilleth, was jailed for five-and-a-half years at Newport Crown Court.

He pleaded guilty to three counts of indecent assault against two girls under 14, one charge of indecency with another under 16 and another of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

Now his victims have issued a statement about the impact his abuse has had. A spokesman for them said: "The sentence that he received will be nothing compared to the damage he has inflicted and for that we will never forgive him."

Baker first abused a young girl in the early 1970s, carried out his second and third offences against another girl in the early 1990s, then abused a third girl in 2004, later inciting her to engage in sexual activity.

"This has had a devastating effect," said the spokesman. "Ronald Baker held the highest position of trust and in the most heinous way he betrayed that trust.

"Our main aim, now he has been dealt with, is to get on with our lives."

The spokesman said their aim was to ensure the victims: "return to a state of normality and continue to receive the loving care they so richly deserve."

The victims thanked police officer Mike Adams and the Child Protection Unit, for their support and their work bringing Baker to trial.