Paedophile spared jail because he would be 'uncomfortable' in prison

'These offences were against vulnerable children. They were vulnerable because of their age and lack of experience of life'

Plymouth Crown Court (Google Street View screengrab)

A man who was convicted of abusing three young girls has avoided jail time because of a bad back.

John Chappell admitted to indecently assaulting the girls in the 1970s when he was 16 or 17 years old, at Plymouth Crown Court. His victims were all under the age of 14 when the abuse took place in 1974.

But the 60-year-old was given a suspended sentence because of he has a curvature of the spine, which Judge Ian Lawrie said would cause him “considerable discomfort” in prison.

The court heard that he had abused his first victim several times, asking her to perform an indecent act and touch him indecently.

He abused the second girl on a single occasion and third was asked to perform an indecent act on him during a game of hide-and-seek.

At trial, it also emerged that in 1975, Chappell had been given a three-year conditional discharge and fined £300, after being found guilty of gross indecency with a child.

Defending Chappell, Jason Beal said the 60-year-old was filled with shame and had written apology letters to the victims.

Sentencing him, The Telegraph reported that Judge Lawrie said Chappell's back would cause him "considerable discomfort in prison".

He added: "The sentence is designed to punish you and is not an exercise in revenge, much as that might be the wish of those who suffered at your hands.”

Judge Lawrie said that if the offences had been committed after the Sexual Offences Act came into being in 2003, he would have received a much longer sentence.

“These offences were against vulnerable children," he said. "They were vulnerable because of their age and lack of experience of life.”