April 2005

Serial sex attacker’s life term

A former taxi driver who attacked and sexually abused six women and a man over 30 years has been jailed for life.

Christopher Harrhy, 43, from Pontypool, south Wales, was convicted of attempted murder, five rapes and six indecent assaults at Cardiff Crown Court.

He was eventually caught after a victim made a recording of a phone call where he threatened to kill her.

Sentencing Harrhy, Judge Griffith Williams QC called him a “predatory” man with a “short temper”.

The defendant first offended in the 1970s, when he indecently assaulted a girl under the age of 13

In 1997, he was jailed for the manslaughter of the young daughter of his former wife, Maxine Hawkins, the court was told.

Once he had been released, Harrhy went on to rape a woman in a car, as well as raping a teenage girl several times – on one occasion in her mother’s bed.

He then blackmailed his young victim, telling her he had a video tape of them having sex, the court was told.

Tape recording

Harrhy was also heard to have repeatedly indecently assaulted another girl, saying he would rape her if she refused to let him touch her.

It was these threats that the victim tape recorded.

During this period of offending, Harrhy also tried to kill his ex-wife, Ms Hawkins, by strangling her until she lost consciousness because she had said she wanted to leave him.

After hearing six weeks of evidence, the jury found Harrhy guilty of making threats to kill, assault, wounding, blackmail and attempting to cause grievous bodily harm, as well as five rapes, six indecent assaults and attempted murder.

Judge Griffith Williams sentenced Harrhy to life in prison for the offences of rape and attempted murder, with sentences of between two and four years for his remaining offences, which will run concurrently.

‘Predatory’

The judge told him: “I have no doubt at all that you have no understanding of the distress you have caused.

“Your indecent assault of a girl under 13 showed that, at a young age, your sexual appetite was predatory and directed at young girls.”

The defendant has also been banned from speaking to, being alone or in a work place with, or inviting into his home, any girl under the age of 17 without the presence of her parent or guardian.

He was also ordered never to contact a number of his victims and to register as a sex offender for life.

After the hearing, the girl who tape recorded Harrhy’s threats and cannot be named for legal reasons, said: “I had had enough and so, one day, I recorded him on my phone.

“I’m relieved, I’m glad he’s not coming out.”

Her mother said: “She’s a hero. I hope he dies in jail.”