February 2019 Paedophile who ‘took away girl’s childhood’ after grooming her is jailed A sex predator who groomed a young girl and “took away her childhood” was jailed for more than three years. Cardiff Crown Court heard how Colin Burke’s teenage victim suffers nightmares as a result of being abused by him. The 50-year-old, of King Street, Cwmfelinfach, admitted nine counts of sexual activity with a child and one of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. Prosecutor Gareth James read out the girl’s victim impact statement to the court. The girl she said that she felt “like a ton of bricks had been lifted” when she spoke out about what had happened to her. She said: “I have flashbacks. This scares me and makes me afraid. I am afraid of bumping into him (the defendant). I suffer from nightmares. “I wish I had a magic wand to make it all go away. I feel like he has taken away my childhood. “I am glad he pleaded guilty and admitted what he did to me was wrong.” Matthew Roberts, representing Burke, said in mitigation: “He is distressed at the predicament he finds himself in. He suffers from depression and anxiety.” Judge Niclas Parry told Burke he had “groomed” the girl and added: “This is a case of particular gravity. Your victim has been psychologically affected.” He jailed the defendant for three years and four months and said he would have register as a sex offender for life and made him the subject of a sexual harm prevention order. Burke will also have to pay a victim surcharge upon his release from custody.