Man, 84, is Jailed for 1962 Rape

An 84-year-old man is beginning a four year sentence for the rape of a girl aged 11 almost 44 years ago. Cardiff Crown Court heard that Merlin Griffiths, from Aberaman, south Wales, was 40 when he carried out the assault in October 1962. When the girl told her mother about the rape it was dismissed as a “fantasy”. Griffiths was arrested after the woman made her accusations again.

He admitted carrying out the rape, telling police it only happened once. Sitting on Friday, the court heard that Griffiths’ victim had accused the man of rape in the 1970s.

Prosecuting, Elizabeth Pearson said: “Her mother took her to see a doctor and the allegations were dismissed as a fantasy.”

Griffiths was charged with rape after the accusations were repeated recently. He was jailed for four years and told to register as a sex offender for life.

Stephen Thomas, defending, said: “He has poor vision and is hard of hearing. He walks with crutches. Going to prison will have an extremely detrimental effect on his health.”

But Judge John Curran told Griffiths: “This is an awful crime that will remain in the memory of your victim for life. “A sad feature is that she tried to disclose what you did but she was not believed.”