A PENSIONER from Berrow who raped two girls in Newtown, Wales, will be transferred to prison from hospital once doctors give the green light, a judge has ruled.

Ernest Noddings, aged 73, was given two consecutive sentences totalling 23 years and four months by Judge Timothy Petts at Caernarfon Crown Court on Monday, April 15.

He had previously pleaded guilty to the offences, which took place in Newtown between December 31, 2009 and January 1, 2011, at magistrates courts.

Judge Petts told the court his lead offence was count six – the rape of a child aged under 13 – which took place during this period, while there was a second period of offending against another victim, also including rape, between 2013 and 2015.

In total there were 12 offences including four counts of assault by penetration, four counts of sexual assault, three counts of rape, and an assault by touching.

Noddings appeared over video link from St Magnus’ Hospital in Hazlemere, Surrey where he is currently being detained under the Mental Health Act.

The court heard that he showered the pair with gifts and attention before making inappropriate and sexualised jokes and comments before attacking them.

He warned them not to tell anyone, which both victims highlighted in their impact statements as a reason they did not raise it earlier, as they did not feel they would be believed.

The pair – in separate victim impact statements – told the court Noddings had "robbed them of their childhoods" and that the abuse was "emotionally and physically painful".

They added: “We have received a lifetime of trauma and we hope that justice will be served.”

Dr Jaleel Mohammed, a forensic psychologist who works at St Magnus, gave evidence in court to say Noddings was bipolar with potential adjustment disorder with depressive episodes.

However, he told Judge Petts that he agreed with another report that Noddings would improve with treatment and could be taken out of the low-security hospital and placed in prison.

Judge Petts was told that Noddings attempted suicide while in custody in 2022 as part of his "very little mitigation", according to his barrister.

However, he was awarded up to 25 per cent credit for his early guilty pleas.

Sentencing him, Judge Petts said:  “Every aspect of their life is overshadowed by the ghastly memory of what you did to them.”

He added: “It would be appropriate that an order is needed stating that when you no longer need hospital, you will be returned to prison.”

Noddings was jailed for 13 years and four months for the rape of a child under 13 and 10 years for rape of a girl aged 15, to be served consecutively.

All other sentences will be served concurrently.