A CANCER stricken paedophile who assaulted girls under ten years old was jailed for just two years owing to his ill health.

Terrance John Major, 81, faced a prison term of between four and eight years for the crimes he committed in the Nineties, Cardiff Crown Court heard.

The first girl he assaulted made an attempt on her life, Crown prosecutor Suzanne Thomas told the court.

And Major continued to deny having abused one victim even after he was found guilty of three sex assaults against her, Judge Philip Richards told the court.

Major, of Manchester Street, Newport, could be released from custody in a year's time, the court heard yesterday [August 22].

One victim's mother told the Argus: "He will serve a minimum of 12 months.

"I think it should have been a little more.

"The girls have to live with this for the rest of their lives. They have seen a psychologist, they've gone through therapy.

"But it doesn't matter the length of the sentence. It's the fact the justice system didn't fail."

Judge Richards gave him a two-year jail term after learning he suffered from prostate cancer, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and had mobility problems.

He said: "I can only begin to imagine the appalling impact his conduct had on his victims, particularly the younger one.

"I have taken into account his condition and pass a sentence which is at least for a public view relatively appropriate although much shorter than otherwise would be the case."

Defence barrister, Hilary Roberts, said his client had been under "considerable stress and strain" at the time of the offences.

He said his wife had been terminally ill at that point and he had consumed alcohol.

Mr Roberts added that his client had been "hardworking" and a strong family man and indicated his health, age and the passage of time since the offences should be taken into consideration.

Major pleaded guilty to one count of indecent assault against one victim and was found guilty of three counts of indecent assault against the other on July 31.

Judge Richards gave him two-year jail sentences for each of the four offences, to run concurrently.

He also imposed a sexual offences' prevention order that will stop Major from having unsupervised contact with children under the age of 16 for the rest of his life.