POLICE and social services chiefs have apologised to a group of children for failing to protect them from horrendous sexual offences at the hands of a serial paedophile.

The man, who is not being named for legal reasons, is serving a life sentence for his crimes.

Now a review into the case has found serious failings in the way it was handled by the authorities.

The paedophile was living in Port Talbot at the time of the sexual assaults.

During the court hearing, it was revealed one youngster made allegations against him nine years earlier.

At the time, police said there was not enough evidence and informed Neath Port Talbot social services about the situation.

One of the victims also raised the alarm on a number of occasions, but again no action was taken against the man.

Earlier this decade he was jailed for 15 months for an indecent assault on a young girl.

While he was in prison one of his victims spoke to an adult about an attack and it was reported to social services, but no action was taken.

Neath Port Talbot Safeguarding Children Board chairman Tony Clements said: "I want to say how very sorry we are.

"Today, we make a severe apology to each of these children.

"The children suffered serious sexual abuse and were let down by all the agencies who should have protected them."

Mr Clements was speaking following the publication of a serious case review that highlighted failings in social services, the police, the Crown Prosecution Service and others.

He said the perpetrator did everything he could to prevent detection of these crimes.

"Nevertheless, performance by a wide range of professionals and agencies fell badly short of what is expected."

He said the agencies had all carefully reflected on the impact the terrible sexual offences had on the lives of the children and on how the response from agencies should have been better at the time.

"We would like to give an assurance that the children are now safe. We will continue to work closely with them, to support them and help them rebuild their lives," he added.

Mr Clements said no one had been suspended or sacked as a result of the case. He said there was nothing within the review that suggested any person or persons should be held responsible.

The review found fault with procedures and processes between agencies involved and said staff making decisions did not always apply principles that would ensure sound judgments.

It also flagged up failings with the police, pointing out 11 specific examples before stating: "When in 2007 allegations of the multiple rapes were made, it took over a year for the man to be arrested."

The review also cited other police issues it said "ensured evidential issues were not sufficiently considered or acted on and contributed to the exposure of children to the risk of abuse".

South Wales Police Assistant Chief Constable Matt Jukes said: "I am sorry we did not take the allegation more seriously and I will not seek to defend the delays.

"At the time relatively junior officers acting in good faith and making the best judgments they could didn't make the connections in this case and did not communicate to all the people they should have.

It is intolerable and we will not have those delays now or in the future."

The review includes 51 recommendations for action.

Mr Clements said some had already been acted on.

"But what we have to recognise is there are adults within our communities that have the potential to abuse children," he added.

"I cannot say that children will not be abused.

"What I can say is we are absolutely determined to work together to ensure we prevent that abuse as often as we can."

paul.lewis@swwmedia.co.uk