Kieran Olden (Image: South Wales Police)
Last Updated: 4 minutes ago
Kieran Olden has been sentenced to seven years in prison after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl while she slept.
The 34-year-old, of Golwg Yr Afon, Aberdare, was convicted by a jury of assault by penetration following a trial. He had denied the charge. He was also sentenced for two counts of common assault against two separate women.
Recorder Benjamin Blakemore handed down the sentence at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court on Friday and made Olden subject to sex offender notification requirements for life.
The assault
The court heard the victim had been on a night out during which she had taken MDMA and consumed alcohol. After she fell asleep, Olden took the “opportunity” to assault her by penetration, pulling up her dress and placing his hands inside her underwear.
The teenager woke during the attack, but Olden continued to sexually assault her.
Left “confused” by what had happened, the victim “went into herself” before telling her mother about the assault around a year later.
The common assaults
Olden was also to be sentenced for two counts of common assault after he pushed a woman and threw a scooter at another woman.
Victim’s words
In a victim personal statement read to the court by prosecutor Tom Roberts, the victim said: “The incident has affected me a great deal, it took courage to tell my mum what he did to me… Ever since I have disclosed the incident I have been in a bad place…
“When I found out he had been found guilty it was like a weight had been lifted and I could finally breathe. During the incident I struggled to breathe and I have been unable to be intimate with someone since as I fear this could happen again. I don’t drink in public anymore and I don’t feel safe being on my own, especially in the evening…
“I became a shell of my former self and stopped going out or socialising with my friends, that has not changed and I still struggle going out… It’s affected the way I have dressed and haven’t worn a short dress since this incident. I struggled to eat due to the trial and my anxiety felt so bad.”
Mitigation
Defence barrister Martha Smith-Higgins told the court her client was fearful for his wife, children and parents should he be sent to prison. Olden had been in full-time employment since the age of 17 and was the main source of income for his family until his conviction. Ms Smith-Higgins said his wife would have to give up work to look after their children, and there would be a financial impact on the family.
