A paedophile from Milford Haven who was said to be too fat to attend his own sentencing hearing has been sent down today (Friday) for four and a half years.

Gerald Picton, aged 66, had ballooned to 30 stone while on remand at Parc prison near Bridgend and last week security staff had been unable to deliver him to Swansea crown court.

But special arrangements were made for today’s hearing and Picton was brought into court in a wheelchair and through the main building instead of from the cells below.

He was also allowed to remain in the well of the court because of difficulties getting him into the dock.

James Jenkins, prosecuting, said Picton, of Observatory Avenue, had entered pleas of guilty on March 29, on the very morning of what was supposed to have been a trial, to 11 charges of indecent assault and one of gross indecency involving three victims, all girls aged under 13 at the time of the offending.

The charges related between 1977 and 1980.

He continued to deny a single offence of rape and Judge Peter Heywood said today that charge would lie on the court file.

Mr Jenkins said the offences involved “fondling the girls at will”.

On one occasion he had exposed his genitals.

Mr Jenkins said that in later life the girls, by then women, had found it difficult to form relationships with men.

“It blighted their lives,” he added.

He said Picton had been a well respected member of the local community but only the victims had known what he was really like.

Dyfed Thomas, representing Picton, said he was a diabetic and had heart problems amongst other health issues.

Picton was ordered to register with the police as a sex offender until further notice.

As he was wheeled from court one of his victims told him to “rot in hell.”