A RETIRED Porthmadog baker has been jailed after being convicted of a string of sexual offences.

Leslie Brindle, 70, of Madoc Street, Porthmadog, who blamed epilepsy for some of his crimes, was jailed for six and a half years last Friday.

A jury at Caernarfon Crown Court found him guilty of 11 charges involving three young girls.

One charge was of inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity. Brindle had strenuously denied the charges and he blamed indecent exposure on absent-mindedness due to his epilepsy.

Defence barrister Sion ap Mihangel said at Friday’s sentencing hearing that, since his conviction in September became known to the small community in which he lived, there had been graffiti attacks on the house and car.

He was an old man in poor health who would struggle in prison, the court heard.

Recorder Wyn Lloyd Jones told Brindle that his offending had lifelong effects. During the trial he had shown no remorse, thinking only of himself and not the victims.

The judge said the offences were committed for his own “selfish sexual gratification”.

During the six-day trial the jury learned that Brindle had been arrested for an indecent exposure offence in 1970 when he was a young man.

Reading from victim impact statements by the girls, Elen Owen, prosecuting, said Brindle’s offences had a significant effect.

The victim from an historic case had “never been able to forget it” but was too embarrassed to tell anyone about Brindle. She had received counselling.

“She says it is a great relief to have finally been able to share her problems,” she said.

The girls from the recent offences were said to be angry at Brindle and unable to trust people any more.