COLIN BURNETT, THE EVIL SEX OFFENDER FROM HENGOED AND CAERPHILLY, SENTENCED TO 24 YEARS FOR DECADES OF ABUSE
| Red Rose Database
Caerphilly Hengoed Rapist
In a case that has shocked the communities of Hengoed and Caerphilly, Colin Burnett, a man with a dark and disturbing history of sexual offenses spanning over fifty years, has been sentenced to a maximum of 24 years in prison. The lengthy and heinous series of crimes committed by Burnett, a former factory worker and laborer from Myrtle Grove, Hengoed, was detailed during a harrowing trial at Cardiff Crown Court, where the full extent of his abuse was laid bare.
Burnett, now 63 years old, faced a jury after being charged with multiple counts of sexual assault and one count of rape, all relating to his victims over a period of five decades. The judge, Stephen Hopkins, described Burnett as a “wicked, evil sexual predator without a conscience,” emphasizing the severity of his crimes and the profound impact on his victims. Despite having no prior criminal record, Burnett was handed the maximum sentence available, reflecting the gravity of his offenses and the suffering inflicted.
The case marked a significant moment for the victims, who had endured silence and suffering for years. It was the first time they had heard in detail how each of their childhoods was stolen from them by Burnett’s predatory actions. The victims, some of whom gave evidence in person while others provided taped testimonies, recounted the trauma they endured, often feeling isolated and afraid to speak out during their childhoods.
One of the victims, Julie, who was just four years old when the abuse began in the mid-1960s, described her ordeal in heartbreaking terms. She explained that Burnett, who was 17 at the time, started abusing her when they lived in Caerphilly. She recalled that her childhood memories are dominated by the abuse, which she described as rolling into one continuous nightmare. Julie, who was physically small and vulnerable, was terrified of Burnett, who was over six feet tall and made threats that her parents would send her away if she ever told anyone about what was happening.
Julie recounted her feelings of disgust and fear, noting that Burnett would often grin during the abuse, seemingly taking pleasure in his actions. She expressed how her childhood was forever tainted, leading her to withdraw from social activities and avoid leaving her home. Her asthma, which she believed was stress-related, improved only after the abuse stopped. Despite her efforts to keep away from Burnett, she later discovered that he continued to abuse other children she knew, a revelation that added to her trauma.
For more than 50 years, Burnett’s victims kept their suffering hidden, believing that their pain was isolated and that he had stopped. However, in January of this year, police investigations uncovered evidence of ongoing abuse, leading to Burnett’s arrest. The police charged him with numerous sexual offenses, including rape, committed over the five-decade period. Julie, now in her early 50s, described her shock upon hearing of Burnett’s arrest, initially feeling a sense of recognition but also disbelief that others had suffered as she had.
She revealed that she had kept her trauma secret for years, only confiding in her husband after nearly three decades of marriage. Her husband was deeply affected by the revelation, visibly devastated and emotional, a rare sight for someone who had previously only cried over family losses. The court heard how Julie and other victims faced emotional and psychological scars, reliving their trauma during the court proceedings.
During the trial, victims provided powerful testimonies, some in person and others via recorded evidence. Julie chose to testify in court, describing the police interviews and court process as both harrowing and necessary. She explained that speaking out was difficult but essential, driven by the realization that Burnett had not stopped his abuse and that others needed to be heard. She also shared her feelings of disappointment and anger when Burnett’s barrister suggested she had a vendetta against him, emphasizing her resolve to tell the truth.
After two days of deliberation, the jury found Burnett guilty of 13 counts related to his abuse. The court was filled with emotion as the verdict was announced, with victims and their families expressing relief and a sense of justice. Judge Hopkins acknowledged Burnett’s lack of prior criminal history but condemned his actions as utterly reprehensible. He described Burnett’s behavior as a betrayal of innocence and a destruction of childhoods, condemning him as a “wicked, evil sexual predator without a conscience.”
As Burnett was led away to begin his sentence, he showed no visible emotion. The judge ordered a minimum of 12 years behind bars, with the possibility of parole after that period. The court also mandated that Burnett be placed on the sex offenders’ register for the rest of his life. Victims, including Julie, expressed a mixture of relief and ongoing pain, emphasizing the importance of speaking out and breaking the silence surrounding abuse. Julie concluded by urging others who might be suffering in silence to seek help and to remember that no one should endure such suffering alone. Despite the long years of trauma, she found some solace in the fact that Burnett would now face the consequences of his actions, ensuring he would never harm another child again.
Burnett, now 63 years old, faced a jury after being charged with multiple counts of sexual assault and one count of rape, all relating to his victims over a period of five decades. The judge, Stephen Hopkins, described Burnett as a “wicked, evil sexual predator without a conscience,” emphasizing the severity of his crimes and the profound impact on his victims. Despite having no prior criminal record, Burnett was handed the maximum sentence available, reflecting the gravity of his offenses and the suffering inflicted.
The case marked a significant moment for the victims, who had endured silence and suffering for years. It was the first time they had heard in detail how each of their childhoods was stolen from them by Burnett’s predatory actions. The victims, some of whom gave evidence in person while others provided taped testimonies, recounted the trauma they endured, often feeling isolated and afraid to speak out during their childhoods.
One of the victims, Julie, who was just four years old when the abuse began in the mid-1960s, described her ordeal in heartbreaking terms. She explained that Burnett, who was 17 at the time, started abusing her when they lived in Caerphilly. She recalled that her childhood memories are dominated by the abuse, which she described as rolling into one continuous nightmare. Julie, who was physically small and vulnerable, was terrified of Burnett, who was over six feet tall and made threats that her parents would send her away if she ever told anyone about what was happening.
Julie recounted her feelings of disgust and fear, noting that Burnett would often grin during the abuse, seemingly taking pleasure in his actions. She expressed how her childhood was forever tainted, leading her to withdraw from social activities and avoid leaving her home. Her asthma, which she believed was stress-related, improved only after the abuse stopped. Despite her efforts to keep away from Burnett, she later discovered that he continued to abuse other children she knew, a revelation that added to her trauma.
For more than 50 years, Burnett’s victims kept their suffering hidden, believing that their pain was isolated and that he had stopped. However, in January of this year, police investigations uncovered evidence of ongoing abuse, leading to Burnett’s arrest. The police charged him with numerous sexual offenses, including rape, committed over the five-decade period. Julie, now in her early 50s, described her shock upon hearing of Burnett’s arrest, initially feeling a sense of recognition but also disbelief that others had suffered as she had.
She revealed that she had kept her trauma secret for years, only confiding in her husband after nearly three decades of marriage. Her husband was deeply affected by the revelation, visibly devastated and emotional, a rare sight for someone who had previously only cried over family losses. The court heard how Julie and other victims faced emotional and psychological scars, reliving their trauma during the court proceedings.
During the trial, victims provided powerful testimonies, some in person and others via recorded evidence. Julie chose to testify in court, describing the police interviews and court process as both harrowing and necessary. She explained that speaking out was difficult but essential, driven by the realization that Burnett had not stopped his abuse and that others needed to be heard. She also shared her feelings of disappointment and anger when Burnett’s barrister suggested she had a vendetta against him, emphasizing her resolve to tell the truth.
After two days of deliberation, the jury found Burnett guilty of 13 counts related to his abuse. The court was filled with emotion as the verdict was announced, with victims and their families expressing relief and a sense of justice. Judge Hopkins acknowledged Burnett’s lack of prior criminal history but condemned his actions as utterly reprehensible. He described Burnett’s behavior as a betrayal of innocence and a destruction of childhoods, condemning him as a “wicked, evil sexual predator without a conscience.”
As Burnett was led away to begin his sentence, he showed no visible emotion. The judge ordered a minimum of 12 years behind bars, with the possibility of parole after that period. The court also mandated that Burnett be placed on the sex offenders’ register for the rest of his life. Victims, including Julie, expressed a mixture of relief and ongoing pain, emphasizing the importance of speaking out and breaking the silence surrounding abuse. Julie concluded by urging others who might be suffering in silence to seek help and to remember that no one should endure such suffering alone. Despite the long years of trauma, she found some solace in the fact that Burnett would now face the consequences of his actions, ensuring he would never harm another child again.