**Swansea Man Jailed After Prolonged Campaign of Child Sexual Abuse**
A Swansea man has been sentenced to an extended prison term following a disturbing case of child sexual abuse that left a young girl and her family devastated. Peter Brock, aged 60, from Ynysforgan, was found guilty at Swansea Crown Court of multiple counts of sexual assault against a child under the age of 13, as well as inciting her to engage in sexual activity.
The court heard that Brock targeted the girl, then just nine and ten years old, over a considerable length of time. He used manipulation and threats to ensure her silence, telling her that she would not be believed if she spoke out and that her family would be torn apart. In an effort to maintain her compliance and secrecy, Brock also showered the child with gifts, including sweets—tactics the judge later described as part of a determined and deceitful campaign.
Only after the victim and her family relocated did the abuse come to an end. The emotional consequences, however, would remain. In a harrowing victim impact statement, read on her behalf by the prosecution, the girl described feelings of isolation, self-blame, and despair. She revealed that as a result of Brock’s actions, she struggled with self-harm and an eating disorder, turning to alcohol in a desperate effort to cope with her mental anguish. At school, she felt an outcast, consumed by an overwhelming sense of difference from her peers. Eventually, confiding in her parents brought some relief, though it could not undo the trauma she had experienced.
The girl’s mother, in her own statement, spoke of the pain of watching her once-joyful daughter’s personality change as the abuse took its toll. She recounted the guilt and heartbreak that overwhelmed the family as they witnessed her child’s self-esteem and happiness erode.
Brock, who appeared for sentencing after being convicted at trial, had no prior criminal record. His defence counsel, Jon Tarrant, stated there was little mitigation he could offer, given Brock’s continued denial of guilt. He suggested only that Brock might engage with rehabilitation services while incarcerated.
Presiding Judge Catherine Richards delivered a pointed rebuke to Brock, stating that his persistence and cruelty had led her to deem him a serious threat. She highlighted the malicious nature of Brock’s threats, noting that he told his victim that revealing the abuse would result in her removal from her family, that her father would be imprisoned, and that her mother would disown her—comments the judge described as “horrific” and deeply damaging to a child.
Given the gravity of the offences and the risk Brock posed to society, Judge Richards imposed a 13-year extended sentence, consisting of ten years’ imprisonment followed by a three-year extended licence period. This means that Brock must serve two-thirds of his jail term before being eligible for release, with the Parole Board responsible for determining whether he is safe to return to the community. Upon completion of his sentence, Brock will remain under strict conditions as a registered sex offender for life and will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order, restricting his contact with children.
Detective Constable Zowie Martin of South Wales Police commented after the sentencing, noting the chilling pattern of behaviour Brock exhibited. She praised the remarkable courage of the victim for coming forward despite years of trauma and attempted intimidation, expressing hope that the resolution of the case would allow her to begin the healing process.
This case stands as a stark reminder of the lasting impact of abuse on victims and their families, and underscores the importance of accessible support services. Victims of abuse in Wales are encouraged to seek confidential help via the Live Fear Free helpline or other specialist agencies, with support available in multiple languages, 24 hours a day.
For anyone impacted by abuse and in need of information or counselling, a range of helplines and organisations—including the NSPCC, Childline, and Refuge—are available to offer assistance and protection.
The sentence handed down to Peter Brock reflects the seriousness with which courts regard such offences and the ongoing commitment by authorities to safeguard children from harm.