A paedophile who "took advantage" of children of a variety of ages and raped and abused them over a period of more than two decades has been jailed.
Matthew Pearce, 40, was jailed for 13 years and seven months for his offending which took place between 1996 and 2019.
He was sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court on Thursday having pleaded guilty to four counts of rape, seven counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, four counts of indecent assault, one count of engaging in sexual activity in front of a child, three counts of sexual assault on a child, and two counts of possessing indecent images of children.
The defendant, of Llandegfedd Way, New Inn, Pontypool, was also placed on the sex offenders' register and was made subject to a sexual harm prevention order.
Speaking after the hearing DC Rhys Lawrence of Gwent Police said: "Matthew Pearce took advantage of children, both young and old, for his own gratification.
“He preyed upon his young victims’ vulnerability subjecting them to horrific sexual abuse that no-one – let alone a child – should experience.
“The bravery of Pearce’s victims cannot be understated in coming forward after being subjected to such trauma.
“Without their testimonies we would not have been able to bring him to justice and secure this conviction.
“I hope that the significant sentence imposed by the courts on Pearce will help the survivors of his abuse to begin the process of moving on and will bring some closure to this awful chapter in their lives."
