Published: Monday, 15th March, 2010 2:22pm

Man jailed over assaults on girls

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A MAN who sexually assaulted three girls in Reading over a nine-year period has been jailed.

Melvin Keates, from Saint Nicholas Road, Wallingford was found guilty at Oxford Crown Court on Friday and faces at least three years in prison.

The 64-year-old was found guilty on eight charges of indecently assaulting three girls in incidents that happened in Reading between 1978 and 1987.

The court heard Keates had a number of girls who would babysit for him and he would return early and force them to perform indecent acts.

Detective constable Pete Watts from Reading CID said: "Keates has never admitted the offences and his victims, all now grown women with children of their own, were forced to relive their ordeals in court.

"The victims, who have never spoken to each other about the incidents, are all very pleased with the outcome of the case.

"Despite having to go through a very traumatic time at court and relive childhood incidents, they now feel that they continue to move on with the rest of their lives.

"Personally, I have witnessed first hand the courage of these victims and other witnesses during the 18 month long investigation and trial and I am delighted with both the verdict and the sentence."