Repeat sex offender who 'terrified' girls jailed

A reoffending paedophile who "terrified" two girls when he tried to indecently expose himself to them has been jailed for nearly four years.

Peter Melville, formerly known as Raymond Gasson, approached the 12-year-old girls in Covingham, Swindon, and told them he was sexually attracted to them.

The 60-year-old, who has more than 10 previous convictions for sexual offences, then unzipped his trousers and attempted to expose himself.

Melville, of Highland Road in Portsmouth, pleaded guilty to breaching a sexual harm prevention order and was handed a 46-month prison sentence at Swindon Crown Court on Friday.

The order states that Melville is not allowed to have unsupervised contact with children.

Melville has previously been convicted of committing a sexual act in front of four minors and indecent exposure in Portchester in 2022 and indecent exposure in front of a child in Waterlooville in 2016.

The court heard firearms officers stopped and arrest Melville near the M4 in Swindon several hours after the incident in September 2023 and he was remanded in custody.

In a statement read to the court one victim said Melville's actions left her feeling unsafe and afraid to go out alone.

"He looked like an innocent, normal man when he walked past - I didn't think he was going to do something like that," she said.

"I was crying and feeling terrified for a while. It was only when the police arrived I started to calm down because I knew they were going to help and he wouldn't come back."

Another victim described how she banged and kicked a house door in an attempt to scare off Melville after he approached her.

"I remember him driving past twice. He looked at me weird the second time," she said.

"I felt confused - I didn't know why he was looking at me."

Speaking after the hearing Det Con Jack Newton praised the victims for their "incredible bravery" in recalling the "traumatic incident".

"Melville is a repeat offender who changed his name and has persistently targeted children," Det Con Newton added.

"I am pleased he will spend time behind bars for what he has done."

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