RONALD SHIER FROM BARRY SENTENCED TO FIVE YEARS FOR SEXUAL OFFENSES INVOLVING CHILDREN IN CARDIFF

In a case that has shocked the community of Barry, Ronald Shier, a 57-year-old resident of Greenwood Street, was sentenced to five years in prison after being convicted of serious sexual offenses involving a young girl. The incident took place in Cardiff, where Shier was brought before Cardiff Crown Court to face charges related to his inappropriate conduct towards a six-year-old girl he was babysitting.

On Friday, September 10, the court heard how Shier had admitted to the charges against him. The prosecution revealed that the offense occurred in July of that year, during a period when the child's mother was away from home. Upon her return, the mother noticed her daughter was distressed and questioned her about what had happened. The young girl disclosed that Shier had sexually assaulted her, leading to immediate police intervention. The police interviewed the girl, who recounted that Shier had taken her upstairs, instructed her to remove her pajamas, and then engaged in inappropriate physical contact, including going 'up and down' on top of her.

The court also learned that Shier had a history of similar offenses dating back to the early 1980s. He had previously admitted to committing multiple sexual attacks against another schoolgirl during that period. Prosecutor Richard Ace detailed that Shier's criminal behavior was not isolated to the recent incident but was part of a pattern of disturbing conduct.

Shier faced three counts of indecent assault concerning the young girl he was babysitting, as well as a charge of sexual assault by touching. The court was told that he had pleaded guilty to these charges, acknowledging his guilt.

Judge Stephen Hopkins QC addressed the court and the public, emphasizing the need to protect society from individuals like Shier. He described Shier as a 'sick man' and stated that the community required safeguarding from his actions. The judge sentenced Shier to five years in prison, underscoring the severity of his crimes and the danger he posed.

During the sentencing, the judge expressed his agreement with Shier's own assessment of himself as being 'sick.' The court also ordered Shier to register as a sex offender for life and prohibited him from working with children in any capacity in the future.

Defending Shier, lawyer Robert Hawkins expressed remorse on his client's behalf, stating that Shier was genuinely sorry for his actions. Hawkins explained that Shier recognized he had a problem that had preoccupied his mind and that he had lost everything, including his self-respect and the respect of others. The court's decision reflects the seriousness of the offenses and the need for ongoing protection of vulnerable individuals from individuals like Ronald Shier.