Ivor John Sheppard

A 75-year-old man from Powys has admitted to a series of historic sex offences dating back over six decades, with sentencing set for later this year at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court.

Ivor John Sheppard, residing at Old Hall Legar near Llanidloes, appeared in court on Friday, 21 July 2023, where he pleaded guilty to seven charges. The offences, which include five counts of indecent assault committed between 31 March 1986 and 1 April 1995, one count of indecent assault on a male between 21 January 1962 and 20 July 1965, and one offence of indecency with a child between 21 January 1962 and 20 July 1966, mark the earliest incidents when Sheppard was still a teenager.

Sheppard denied six additional charges of indecent assault, alleged to have occurred between 1965 and 2004, which the court has ordered to lie on file. These admissions come after a long period of investigation into historical allegations, highlighting the ongoing efforts to address past sexual crimes.

The case was heard at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court, with Sheppard due to return for sentencing on 8 September 2023. Court officials have not released further details on the victims or the specific circumstances of the offences, in line with legal protections for sensitive historical cases. This development underscores the commitment of the judicial system to prosecuting such matters, no matter how much time has passed since the incidents.

Source: County Times, reported by Matt Jones on 21 July 2023.