Ex-soldier jailed for sex offences against young girls

The two girls were frightened by Phillip Price, formerly of Malvern, after he told them of his experiences in the armed forces, Worcester Crown Court heard.

The 54-year-old was found guilty of two counts of sexually abusing the girls when they were under 13 and one charge against one of the girls when she was aged between 13 and 16.

He was cleared by a jury of more serious sex charges and he continued to deny the offences, Michael Aspinall, prosecuting, told a sentencing hearing.

Price had touched both girls sexually starting when one was as young as eight with the last offence dating back to 2010, the court heard.

Mr Aspinall said he told them he had been in the forces and knew how to make a bomb but he did not issue direct threats to them.

In victim impact statements, both girls, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said they had been badly affected by the abuse.

Both said they did not like going out in public and one had suffered panic attacks.

Giles Nelson, defending, said a psychiatric report showed Price had been suffering from serious mental health issues dating back to 2001 resulting from his time in the army.

He had been living in Malvern before moving to a village in Herefordshire where the offences took place.

Judge Robert Juckes, QC, said the girls had been "manipulated" by Price telling them of his experiences as a soldier. He said he hoped the resolution of the case would help the victims to cope.

Price, now of Medway Court, Brockworth, Gloucester, posed a continuing danger, the judge said.

A sexual harm prevention order was imposed indefinitely restricting his contact with children under 16 and he was ordered to register as a sex offender until further notice.

He was given a sentence of three years six months for each of the offences when the girls were under 13 to run consecutively and two years six months for the offence when the victim was over 13 but under 16 to run concurrently, a total of seven years.