Dec 2002 ‘Honeytrap’ abuser jailed for ten years A GWENT man who abused children after turning his home into a honeytrap for youngsters was yesterday jailed for ten years. Dennis Joy, 48, of Cwmbran, had previously pleaded guilty to rape, gross indecency, 16 counts of indecent assault and two counts of allowing premises to be used for intercourse. Sentencing him at Newport crown court, Judge David Morris said: “These are serious offences against young girls, the youngest was 11 and the oldest, who you raped, was 18. “You set up your home as an enticement to young children, you allowed and encouraged them to drink, smoke and engage in sexual activity in which you joined in. You acted on a pre-planned basis as a sexual predator in order to satisfy your lust. You are a continuing threat to children. The woman you raped was disabled. You seized her, forcibly holding her down on the bed and raped her despite her pleas to stop.” Joy received eight years for the rape and two years for the other offences, to run consecutively, as well as having to register as a sex offender indefinitely. Before sentence was passed, defending barrister Richard Smith, QC, said: “Nothing I will say is designed to justify Dennis Joy’s conduct. However, he did plead guilty which saved the young witnesses the pain of having to give evidence in court. “This is a man who is coming to terms with what he has done and is now genuinely remorseful. The indecent assaults were confined to touching and are not the most serious of their kind. The rape was an isolated incident which occurred in the summer of 1998. Between then and his arrest Mr Joy did not repeat that offence though he had every opportunity. There was no gratuitous violence and he spared the victim having to give evidence in court.” After sentencing, investigating officer Detective Sergeant Jim Loughlin said: “I am happy with the sentence and I am pleased the witnesses did not have to give evidence, which was mainly because the evidence we had from them was overwhelming. Joy manipulated adolescent children in a devious way. “We are satisfied that the length of the sentence protects others from him and sends a message to anyone considering taking advantage of children that the police will pursue these matters and put them to the courts.”