A great grandfather has been jailed for abusing a schoolgirl during a game of hide and seek more than 30 years ago.
Charity worker Robin Wale, aged 70, abused the vulnerable 14-year-old after luring her into woods at Steps Bridge and went on to assault her again at a house in Exeter.
His victim was so frozen with fear she stared at the sky during the hide and seek assault and was unable to tell anyone what he did for more than 30 years.
She finally went to the police after learning he may have access to a friend’s teenaged daughter, Exeter Crown Court was told.
He was jailed for a total of 27 months by Recorder Mr Philip Mott, QC, who told him: ’At the time your victim was frozen with shock and fear. Her impact statement shows the effect this has had on her and her relationships in later life.
’You have been a man of good character for 33 years since these offences with children, grandchildren and great grandchildren of your own and that is powerful mitigation but does not alter the seriousness of these offences.
’The significant aggravating features are the disparity in age and the vulnerability of the victim, who was under age and inexperienced sexually.’
During a two-day case the prosecution alleged the first assault took place during a camping trip at Steps Bridge in which Wale took two girls into the woods and suggested a game of hide and seek. He sent the other girl to hide and then lifted the complainant’s top and touched her breasts.
On another occasion the next summer he was visiting a house where the same two girls were staying in Exeter.
He touched the girl, now aged 15 over her T-shirt while on a walk by the river and went on to put his hand inside her pants in a bedroom.
Wale denied any inappropriate contact and said he could not even remember meeting the girl until detectives showed him an old photograph during his interview.
Mr Nigel Wraith, mitigating, said Wale has lived a blameless life since and has done charitable voluntary work since he was forced to retire though ill health.