BERNARD ASTON, BANGOR PAEDOPHILE, SENTENCED IN NORTH WALES

In December 2004, a 75-year-old man from Bangor named Bernard Aston was sentenced to four years in prison after being convicted of multiple sex offences involving young girls. The case, which drew significant attention, highlighted Aston's long history of criminal behavior and his continued denial of the allegations against him.

At Mold Crown Court, Aston was described as an 'unrepentant paedophile' and was identified as a significant risk to young girls in the community. He faced five counts of indecent assault involving girls under the age of 13. Despite his denial of the charges, the court found him guilty of all five counts after a six-day trial held at Caernarfon Crown Court in October. Aston had also denied attempts to rape one of the girls, but the jury acquitted him of that particular charge.

Following his conviction, Aston was ordered to be placed on the sex offenders register for life and was subjected to an extended supervision order upon his release from prison. The judge, Philip Hughes, did not hold back in his remarks, emphasizing Aston’s history of offending and his attitude towards the victims. He described Aston as an 'unrepentant paedophile' who blamed the girls for lying about him, despite their courage in reporting the abuse to authorities.

Judge Hughes pointed out that Aston had previously been convicted of similar offences dating back to the 1970s and 1980s, including two indecent assaults on girls in Bangor in 1973, for which he was fined, and further convictions in 1983 at Guildford Magistrates’ Court in Surrey, where he was placed on probation for two years. The judge expressed concern over the emotional and psychological damage inflicted on the victims, noting that such harm could have lasting effects into their adult lives.

The court heard that Aston had systematically groomed the girls, cultivating their trust in a calculated manner. The judge described his interest in the victims as lustful and emphasized the deliberate nature of his actions. Aston’s defense lawyer, Duncan Bould, argued that a prison sentence would be particularly devastating given Aston’s age and frailty. However, the court made it clear that Aston would never be permitted to work with children in any capacity again, underscoring the severity of his crimes and the community’s need for protection.