A pensioner from Haverfordwest got away with abusing children for 15 years until one of his victims developed the courage to come forward, a jury heard today.

After Reginald Henry Turner, aged 74, was arrested and appeared before local magistrates there was publicity in local newspapers—and two more females made similar complaints, said Patrick Griffiths, prosecuting at Swansea crown court.

Turner, of High Street Close, denies 24 allegations of rape, indecent assault, indecency with a child and sexual touching.

Mr Griffiths said Turner’s three victims were not connected to each other and “they had no reason whatsoever to make up the allegations against him.”

The sexual assaults began in the early 1990s and stopped in about 2008, he said.

Although most of the charges involved his first victim it was his last victim who first made a complaint, added Mr Griffiths.

Children, he told the jury during his opening address, were vulnerable and sometime found it impossible to prevent these sort of actions from taking place.

“Children may not properly understand what is happening and may not say anything at the time to others for a variety of reasons.

“They may feel fear and be embarrassed,” he said

“But the memories may not be forgotten and later the victims may summon up the courage to tell others.”

Mr Griffiths said publicity about Turner’s initial arrest “led from one complaint to another and then to another.”

Some of the offending, added Mr Griffiths, took place when Turner lived in Gwilliam Court, Monkton.

After his arrest Turner told police that all the allegations were untrue.

The trial is expected to last for two weeks.