June 2020

Llanrwst pub landlord jailed for 24 years for sexually abusing four girls

A pub landlord who sexually abused four girls over three decades was today jailed for 24 years.

Carl Alan Martin, 58, of the Red Lion in Llanrwst, had denied 18 offences, including one count of rape, when he stood trial at Mold Crown Court in March.

The charges related to offences against four different children who were all under the age of 13 on various dates between the late 1980s until the early 2000s.

Martin was acquitted of two charges of indecency with a child and another of indecent assault.

But the jury found him guilty of 15 offences and sentence had been adjourned until today for reports.

Sentencing Judge Rhys Rowlands said Martin had shown no contrition or remorse.

“The trial does not make these offences more serious but there can’t be any reduction in the length of the sentence I am about to impose as there would have been had you pleaded guilty.

“Having read the pre-sentence report and heard you at the trial I see no evidence of contrition or remorse on your part.

“Quite the opposite you sought to prolong matters by standing trial and maintained your denials.

“There are four victims who were very young when abused by you.

“It is a testament to their character that now, as grown women, they gave evidence before the jury in a measured and impressive way.”

The judge added the abuse they had suffered had impacted on their lives and in a Victim Personal Statement one of them said she had been left an “emotional wreck”.

“They have had to live with what you did to them as children while you moved on and lived your life as if nothing had happened.

“Their evidence, accepted by the jury, demonstrates over a period of time you took away their innocence and indeed much of their childhoods,” the judge said.

The judge told Martin he would have to serve two thirds of the sentence before being eligible for parole and would have to spend an additional three year extended licence period.

Banned from working with children and vulnerable adults, Martin must sign the Sex Offenders Register for life.

Defence counsel Nerida Hartford-Bell referred to the character references heard by the jury and reminded the judge the defendant had no previous convictions.

There was no evidence, she added, that there had been any further offending in the past 15 or 16 years.

The judge agreed there was a different side to Martin’s character.

During the trial prosecutor Matthew Curtis told the jury there were “similarities to the defendant’s pattern of offending” and that Martin had “constructed opportunities to be alone with them separately”.

The jury heard there were “clear memories that stuck in her mind” of one of the victims although other victims recollections were described as “sketchy”.

Although Martin’s actions were reported by the victims to friends and family at the time it was not until years later that the matters were reported to police.

Martin claimed the offences “simply did not happen” and denied ever touching the complainants inappropriately.

February 2020

Pervert boss tried to have sex with 13-year-old he bribed with £120 trainers

A pervert who bribed a 13-year-old girl with a £120 pair of trainers then tried to have sex with her has been jailed.

Roger Timothy John Steele groomed his victim before meeting up with her at an industrial unit in Rhyl.

The 44-year-old, of Cwrt Tudur in Kinmel Bay, hugged and kissed his victim before asking her to take her trousers down.

He told the girl it would hurt if he didn’t do as he asked, and when he failed to have sex with her he told her they would “have to try again when she was older”.

Steele’s tactics were described as “cynical grooming” that had had a “bad and profound effect on the victim”.

He had shown no remorse for what he had done, and opted to be tried by a jury.

He was found guilty earlier this month.

Judge Rhys Rowlands, sentencing Steele at Mold crown court today, said: “If ever there was a man who should have owned up to his behaviour, you are this man.”

The judge said he took into account he was a “hard working and successful businessman” and the impact of a sentence would put the livelihood of his employees at risk.

A victim impact read out by prosecutor Andrew Green described the last two years as “torture”.

It added the incident had a “high impact” on her life and as a result she felt afraid when in Rhyl.

Judge Rowlands jailed him for five years and ordered that he register with the police as a sex offender for life.

He was also subject to a sexual harm prevention order.

March 2020

Deganwy man who previously avoided custody is jailed for three years for having child sexual abuse images

A Deganwy man, who’d changed his name to hide his vile past, had child sexual abuse images once again including a video of a six months old baby being “horrifically tortured,” a judge said.

Owain Jones, 34, of Vardre Avenue, who’d set up a weed control business, was jailed for three years after he admitted distributing an indecent image and possession of child sexual abuse images

Caernarfon crown court heard 516 indecent images were recovered by officers including “original” filth not on the police database.

Prosecuting barrister Sion ap Mihangel said: “The defendant admitted he was sexually aroused by indecent images of children.”

In 2007 he received a suspended sentence because of indecent images.

Jo Maxwell, defending, said Jones had changed his name and was keen to seek help for his behaviour.

Judge Timothy Petts said in April 2018 police had seized computer equipment and found images of child abuse some described in court in “hideous” detail so the full nature of his depravity could be seen.

A ten-year sexual harm prevention order was made and Jones must register as a sex offender indefinitely.

November 2003

Rapist jailed

A man from Colwyn Bay has been jailed for five years for male rape.

Simon Paul Skelley, a 24-year-old kitchen fitter from Prince’s Drive, was also accused of indecent assault.

On Friday he pleaded guilty to the offences at Caernarfon Crown Court.

After sentencing him to five years, the judge ordered Skelley to be placed on the sex offenders’ register for life.