Cardiff man jailed for child sex abuse as teenager

A Cardiff man has been jailed for more than four years after sexually abusing two young girls when he was a teenager, leaving his victims with severe mental health struggles and suicidal thoughts.

Kai Lewis, now 29, of Tweedsmuir Road in Tremorfa, was convicted of assault by penetration, causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, and two counts of sexual activity with a child following a trial at Cardiff Crown Court.

The court heard Lewis carried out sexual assaults against his first victim beginning when she was of primary school age and he was in his mid-teens. He sexually abused his second victim when she was of primary school age and he was in his late teens.

Neither victim realised what Lewis had done to them was wrong at the time due to their young ages. One victim only understood the abuse after receiving sex education at school, whilst the other came to the realisation during a sleepover.

In a victim personal statement, the first victim told the court: “I am not going to sit here and say this hasn’t defined my life, it has. It has ruined my life and changed me as a person. I have been abused by this man since I was a child and it has shaped the person I am today.

“I was not able to have a normal childhood or teenage years like my friends and it has had an impact on all adult aspects of my life. I have not been able to form healthy relationships or trust another man in my life.”

She said the abuse had a massive impact on her mental health and she suffers flashbacks. She added that she has made numerous attempts on her own life, as she “thought it was the only way out of her suffering”.

She added: “The image of him still haunts me to this day. I see his face in all men around me and ask myself if it will ever get better. I will never be able to get over the abuse.”

The second victim said in her statement: “I am making this statement to express my feelings of how the abuse has impacted my life. He made me feel disgusting and that I need to scrub my skin at all times. I can feel his hands on me and have vivid dreams about it happening all over again.

“He made me feel vulnerable and scared of all men, I fear any man can assault me, not only him.

“I can’t remember my childhood, I think I was trying to block out all the memories… I am on anti depressants, struggling with my mental health and felt like I wanted to end my life. I am getting flashbacks triggered by random things. I feel disgusting in my own body and will never feel clean or good enough.

“I feel like I am finally getting the justice I deserve after such a long period of time and I’m looking forward to starting the process of healing.”

Prosecutor Kathryn Lane told the court: “(The victims) thought the defendant’s behaviour was normal as they were so young when it occurred. They were unaware this ought not to be happening.”

The victims later contacted police separately, leading to Lewis being brought to justice. Lewis denied the charges but was convicted following trial.

In mitigation, Heath Edwards said his client committed the offences when he was a youth. He said the defendant is registered blind, is not employed and lives an “unstructured lifestyle”. The court heard Lewis has one conviction for robbery.

Sentencing, Judge Richard Kember said Lewis would be sentenced as though he was under 18 years old, due to his age at the time of the offences.

Lewis was sentenced to four years and six months imprisonment. He was made subject to a restraining order and sex offender notification requirements indefinitely, and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for eight years.