DEAN WEBBER FROM ABERTILLERY SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENSES IN NEWPORT COURT

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Abertillery, Dean Webber, aged 27, was handed a significant prison sentence after being convicted of multiple serious sexual offenses involving a young girl. The incident, which took place over a span of approximately one year, culminated in Webber being sentenced at Newport Crown Court in August 2010.

Webber, who resides on Castle Street in Abertillery, appeared before the court to face charges that included three counts of engaging in sexual activity with a minor and two counts of rape. The court proceedings revealed disturbing details about the nature and timeline of the offenses. It was established that Webber first initiated contact with the girl, who has chosen to remain anonymous, by sexually touching her while she was asleep in her bed in 2007. This initial assault was followed by four additional attacks over the course of 2007 and 2008.

Following these incidents, the girl confided in a neighbor and later her brother about what had happened. The disclosures prompted her family to report the matter to the police, leading to Webber's arrest and subsequent trial. Throughout the proceedings, Webber maintained his innocence, claiming he had no understanding of why the girl was making such allegations against him.

Prosecutor Sarah Waters highlighted the severity of the impact on the victim, noting that her mother reported her daughter had taken an overdose as a direct consequence of the trauma inflicted. The court also heard that in January 2008, Webber was found guilty of unlawfully obtaining children, after two teenage girls, who had gone missing, were discovered hiding in his bedroom wardrobe.

During the defense, Caroline Rees argued that Webber's behavior might have been influenced by a serious head injury he suffered during an earlier assault, which affected his ability to communicate effectively. Despite this, Judge Eleri Rees expressed concern over Webber's potential danger to young girls and described his views on sex with minors as 'distorted.'

Ultimately, Webber was sentenced to five years in prison for each of the five offenses, with all sentences to be served concurrently. Additionally, he was ordered to register as a sex offender for an indefinite period, reflecting the court's view of the ongoing risk he poses to the community of Abertillery and beyond.