A Newcastle Emlyn pensioner convicted of sex offences against girls aged as young as five has been jailed this morning for 17 years.

Christopher Tatton, aged 73, of Ty Maris, Llandyfriog, had been found guilty of all the offences of indecent assault following a trial at Swansea Crown Court.

His barrister, Ian Ibrahim, said the day after his convictions he had suffered a heart attack after being remanded to Parc prison, near Bridgend.

He was now awaiting a heart bypass operation, said Mr Ibrahim.

Tatton had denied the offences.

Today, Judge Paul Thomas told Tatton he had robbed the girls of their childhoods and the effects of his offending had plagued their adulthoods.

“I have been asked to show compassion to you. I shall do so," the judge said.

“However, I am bound to say you showed no compassion to those girls.

“You put your twisted sexual urges before their rights to grow up in a proper way.”

Judge Thomas also criticised Tatton for “trying to brazen your way out to save your own skin” and putting his victims through a trial where they were accused of being liars.

Judge Thomas passed an extended sentence and after his eventual release Tatton will be on licence and liable to be recalled to prison until 2039.