Bridgend paedophile jailed for 15 years for child abuse

A convicted paedophile and former Royal Navy serviceman has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for raping and sexually abusing a young boy.

James Carr, 68, of Maesgals, Bryntirion, Bridgend, was found guilty of rape, attempted buggery and indecent assault at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court.

The offences

Carr had previously been convicted in 2018 of possessing indecent images of children and admitted he had been viewing such material over a period of 14 years.

It was that conviction which led the victim to come forward and report to police the abuse he had endured at Carr’s hands.

The abuse

The court heard on Wednesday that Carr’s offending began with forcefully kissing the victim and touching his penis, before escalating to rape.

He also directed verbal abuse at the boy, calling him a “puff”, and showed him “nothing but cruelty, coldness and abuse.”

As a result of what he suffered, the victim attempted to take his own life on several occasions and underwent therapy.

Victim’s statement

A victim personal statement read to the court by Mark Wyeth KC described the lasting damage Carr’s actions had caused. The victim said:

“When I was asked how (the defendant’s) actions affected me I was too overwhelmed to write anything. I was sat in tears thinking how my life would have been had I not endured him.

“It took me several years to get the courage to say what he had done to me. I felt dirty and used for most of my life, devoid of worth and unworthy of other people’s lives.

“He made me feel like it was my fault and what I deserved. I hid myself from the world in every sense of the word. He made me feel less than a man. For so long I held the secret.

“I’ve found it difficult to bond with and trust other males. What he did was twist me into the person I am today. I’ve had trouble staying in jobs and since I reported the crime I have experienced higher levels of fear and anxiety.”

Defence

David Pinnell, representing Carr, told the court in mitigation that his client had served in the Royal Navy and had been stationed in locations including the Falkland Islands and the Arctic. Carr had also acted as a carer for his parents.

The court also heard that Carr kept weapons at his home, including a machete, because he was “preparing for the end of the world.”

Sentencing

Judge Jeremy Jenkins described Carr’s offending as a “campaign of abuse” and a “serious historic offence.”

“This had a devastating effect on (the victim) and will live with him for the rest of his life,” the judge said.

Carr will serve two-thirds of his 15-year sentence before becoming eligible for parole. He was also made subject to sex offender notification requirements, a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and a restraining order – all for the rest of his life.