Cardiff rapist jailed for almost 10 years

A man who raped a woman and told her he was “enjoying” it has been sentenced to nine years and nine months in prison.

Paul Hallisey, 34, of Heol y Berllan, Caerau, Cardiff, was found guilty of rape following a trial in January after denying the charge. He was sentenced at Newport Crown Court on Tuesday.

The attack

The court heard how one night some years ago, Hallisey tried to initiate sexual intercourse with the woman by touching her. She made it clear – both verbally and physically – that she did not consent, repeatedly telling him: “No, I’m tired,” and turning away from him.

Despite this, Hallisey continued to hassle her before moving her clothing and inserting his finger inside her. He then raped her while she was “trapped between his arms and legs”, where she “laid there crying waiting for it to be over.”

During the attack, the victim asked Hallisey: “Did you know that’s rape?” to which he allegedly responded: “Is it?” – and continued.

A text exchange between the pair was later presented to the jury, in which the victim stated what had happened. Hallisey responded: “Why didn’t you punch me or something?… I seriously can’t remember this… I’m sorry, I can’t remember.”

The victim told him she did not punch him because she was “petrified.”

Victim’s statement

The victim bravely read her personal statement in court, describing the impact as a “life sentence” that left her suicidal.

“Standing here today, I still feel pain,” she said. “I will forever be affected by what he has done.”

Looking directly into Hallisey’s eyes as he sat in the dock – describing him as “smirking” back at her – she told him firmly: “You took my body, you took my freedom for your pleasure. I hope you never treat another woman the way you treated me.”

She told Recorder Aidan Eardley KC that she continues to suffer flashbacks and nightmares, stating: “A word, a sound, a smell – everything comes flooding back.”

She added: “I could barely look at myself, I could barely face life. I didn’t want to leave my bed or my house. I tried to take my life on more than one occasion – I saw no way out.”

She said her mental health declined to the point of being sectioned.

Drug offences

Alongside the rape conviction, Hallisey was also sentenced for a string of drug offences he had previously pleaded guilty to, committed while on bail for rape. These included being concerned in the supply of cocaine and cannabis, cannabis cultivation, and possession with intent to supply cannabis.

The court heard that in October 2024, a warrant was executed at Hallisey’s home after his electricity company raised concerns about electricity being abstracted. When police arrived, Hallisey was seen “jumping from the first floor window” to escape officers.

Inside, officers found 30 cannabis plants in the living room worth between £3,600 and £18,000, along with cultivation equipment.

Upon arrest, Hallisey told officers: “All that sh** ain’t mine. I’m going to get f***** up anyway.”

In a separate incident, when officers attended his address after receiving information he was growing cannabis, Hallisey responded: “It’s all gone.” Officers found growing equipment and later discovered messages on his phone about supplying cannabis and cocaine, including a message in which Hallisey stated: “I am the ganja farmer.”

The court heard Hallisey has 12 previous convictions for 17 offences.

Defence and sentencing

Defence barrister John Ryan told the court his client had turned to drugs to cope with the rape investigation, which saw his “life spiral.” He added that although Hallisey pleaded not guilty, considerable delays throughout the case were not his fault, instead attributable to the “underfunded, under-resourced criminal justice system.”

Sentencing him, Recorder Eardley addressed the defendant: “Your actions continue to have a very significant effect on [the victim].”

Hallisey received nine years and nine months for rape and being concerned in the supply of cocaine. A 15-month sentence for cannabis cultivation and possession with intent to supply will run concurrently, along with a 10-month sentence for being concerned in the supply of cannabis.

He was also made subject to a 15-year restraining order preventing him from contacting the victim.