Sex offender jailed for 19 years after abuse campaign

A “violent and manipulative” sex offender has been locked up after being found guilty of a campaign of physical and sexual abuse.

Kevin Andrews, 70, was convicted after a trial of crimes committed against his female victim in Caerphilly county two decades ago.

He had denied the charges, but a jury found him guilty of 22 offences including sexual assault, indecent assault, causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The defendant sexually abused his victim and made her carry out sexual acts on him. The assault charge related to Andrews hitting the victim over the head with a can of Carlsberg.

“It was a campaign of abuse,” said James Wilson, prosecuting.

Mr Wilson said that although Andrews had no previous convictions, the defendant was not of “good character” due to the length of time the offences spanned.

The victim told Newport Crown Court: “I will never get over what has happened to me. I find day-to-day life exhausting and I am constantly tired from all the trauma I have had to carry. I am appalled after all this abuse that he is still unable to take responsibility for his behaviour and the damage that he has caused. I will be traumatised for the rest of my life due to his actions.”

Emma Harris, for Andrews, said: “There is very limited mitigation. Mr Andrews is aware that a lengthy custodial sentence follows.”

Ms Harris said that whilst Andrews did not agree with the jury’s verdicts, he did accept them.

Addressing the defendant, Judge Carl Harrison said: “You are a violent, devious, and manipulative sex offender. You regularly sexually and physically abused her. When you were in a good mood, you would sexually abuse her. When you were in a bad mood, you would beat her.”

Andrews, of Beatty Street in Tir-Y-Berth, Caerphilly, was jailed for 19 years. He will serve up to two-thirds of his sentence in prison before being released on licence.

He must register as a sex offender for life, and was made the subject of an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

Judge Harrison commended the victim’s bravery in coming forward, giving evidence, and facing the defendant in court.

He granted her a life-long restraining order against him.