Presteigne man jailed for 21 years for child sex offences

A Powys man who subjected a young girl to almost a decade of sexual abuse has been sentenced to 21 years behind bars.

Paul David Withnell, 74, from Presteigne, was convicted of 19 non-recent child sex offences following an eight-day trial at Merthyr Crown Court last November. The court handed down his sentence today at Cardiff Crown Court.

The horrific abuse began when the victim was just seven years old in the 1980s. Withnell initiated the abuse through what he called a “tickle and fight” game, during which he would sexually assault the child. As time went on, he fabricated a twisted fantasy that he and the young girl were in a romantic relationship, before escalating to rape.

The abuse continued until she was fifteen. At around thirteen years old, the victim became pregnant as a result of the rape and suffered a miscarcarriage during the summer school holidays.

Police also discovered Withnell’s collection of naked photographs and personal drawings of young girls. When questioned about these images, he told officers: “I think children, girls, between the ages of 13 and 16/17 are at their most beautiful. Or I did think that. That’s why I wanted to capture that in my drawings.”

In her powerful impact statement delivered in court today, the victim said: “As I look back over my childhood, I am left with lasting trauma, flashbacks and memories that will never leave me… My innocence was ruined far too young, and I was forced to live in a world for adults when I was a mere child…”

She continued: “No matter how resilient I have learnt to be as an adult, I will never escape the shame of my past. I feel as if I’ve been left with a permanent dirty stain that is always there, and no matter how I live my life now and try to forget my past, that stain remains – and will inevitably remain throughout my future.”

Withnell was found guilty of four counts of rape of a female under 16, six counts of gross indecency of a girl under 14, eight counts of indecent assault of a girl under 16, and one count of making indecent photographs of a child. He had pleaded guilty to the photograph charge in March 2025 but denied all other charges.

During sentencing, the judge acknowledged the devastating impact on the victim’s life, stating that Withnell caused her “unspeakable hardship, misery and upset.”

“You caused her to endure decades of emotional pain… and now you must atone for your appalling conduct,” the judge said.

“I think about that fourteen-year-old girl as she was undergoing the miscarriage… and I ask myself how frightened, isolated and scared that young teenager must have felt at having to undergo and endure that experience. It is almost impossible to articulate in adequate English how utterly appalling that experience must have been for her.”

Withnell has been ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life and is subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Detective Inspector Christine Beaton commended the victim’s courage: “I want to commend the victim in this case for her bravery in coming forward to report these horrendous crimes. I understand that reporting crimes of this nature, particularly many years after they happened, can be especially daunting. The dignity and strength shown throughout the course of the investigation is testament to her resilience, bravery and determination to secure justice.”

She added: “I hope this case reassures others that we will always take reports of sexual abuse incredibly seriously, no matter how recent or non-recent they may be. If you have been a victim of rape or sexual abuse, please come forward. We are compassionate, capable, and committed to supporting you every step of the way.”