Sex attacker is jailed for life (From Penarth Times)

Sex attacker is jailed for life

THE man responsible for a series of sex attacks in Penarth 15 years ago was jailed for life last week at Cardiff Crown Court.

Timothy Kenneth Pugh, aged 47, of Culver Close, admitted attempting to rape an 84-year-old woman, and indecently assaulting two more women in 1989 and 1990.

Pugh, a father-of-two, was jailed for life for attempted rape and given three and a half years in prison for each of the assaults.

He must serve a minimum term of three years and two months in prison and must register as a sex offender for life.

Judge John Griffith Williams told Pugh his attacks had continued to affect his victims.

The judge said: "The remaining years of your elderly victim were blighted by what you did to her. And another of your victims is still haunted by the recollection of her ordeal 15 years later.

"There is no doubt you targeted your victims and these were planned attacks. Your use of a ski-mask was an integral part of your fantasy.

"What shocks me is how you have expressed doubt as to the long-term effects of your actions against these women.

"This was part of a campaign of predatory attacks on women."

The first offence was committed at around 8.40pm on November 22, 1989 on a 54-year-old woman cycling home through a lane near Rudry Street in Penarth.

Martyn Kelly, prosecuting, said: "Pugh jumped out of bushes as the woman was cycling along the lane pulling a balaclava over his face.

"He was laughing as he exposed himself to her and pushed her to the ground. He then began a sexual assault but suddenly stopped and made good his escape because his victim was screaming so loudly.

"The woman still suffers from dreams of a masked attacker. She was in tears when she had to tell her husband of the attack.

"As a result she did not want to go out at night any more in her own home town."

The court heard that Pugh was wearing a ski mask when he attacked an 84-year-old woman in her home in Berkley Drive in April 1990.

Mr Kelly told the court how Pugh attempted to rape the woman after breaking into the property.

A semen stain left on his elderly victim's skirt provided the police with a vital piece of DNA evidence.

Pugh fled after a neighbour was alerted by the lady's screams.

The victim's statement to police at the time of the attack was read out at Cardiff Crown Court last Friday.

She said: "I am deeply shocked and distressed. I am so frightened I no longer want to stay in my house."

She later moved from the area and has since died.

The last of the three attacks took place in August 1990 in Barry.

The victim was a 30-year-old secretary walking home through a lane near Broad Street.

The court was told how Pugh, again wearing a ski mask, pulled the woman to the ground and assaulted her. When she fought back Pugh fled.