JAMES MCKERNAN OF BARRY SENTENCED TO THREE YEARS FOR CHILD ABUSE IN CARDIFF

In a recent court ruling, James Thomas McKernan, a resident of Barry, was sentenced to a three-year prison term following his conviction for serious sexual offenses involving a young girl. The incident took place at McKernan's residence in Barry, where he engaged in inappropriate conduct with a girl under the age of 13 between November 24, 2008, and July 3 of the following year.

McKernan, also known by the nickname Ali, was previously employed at a Barry Island amusement arcade and operated a pet shop on High Street. Despite his employment background, he maintained his innocence throughout the trial, which lasted three and a half days at Cardiff Crown Court. The jury found him guilty of three counts of sexual misconduct involving the minor girl.

Her Honour, Judge Helen Mifflin, presided over the case and delivered a stern sentence, emphasizing the gravity of McKernan's actions. She advised him to reflect on the 'legacy' he was leaving behind, which she described as deeply damaging. The judge pointed out that McKernan exploited his puppy to groom the young girl, encouraging her not to disclose the abuse out of fear that the police would become involved.

Judge Mifflin stated, "Your contact with her was facilitated by allowing her to develop a bond with your dog, which you further used as an aid to continue your offences. You persistently groomed this child, showing no remorse or insight into your actions, and no motivation to change." She highlighted the lasting impact on the victim, noting that the girl now suffers from nightmares and that the effects of McKernan's crimes are likely to extend beyond childhood. "That is your legacy to this child," she added.

The court was informed that the victim, whose identity remains protected for legal reasons, confided in her maternal grandmother about the abuse in February. During her testimony via video link, the girl described feeling 'sad' and recounted that the abuse occurred in McKernan's living room during visits to his house. She explained, "I said stop it. I was trying to move, but he just pulled me back with his hand."

The girl's grandmother also testified, revealing her shock upon learning what had happened. She said, "She told me he was messing around with her penny. I was shocked. She said I could tell you because if I told you, the police would get involved and she wouldn’t be able to see the dog anymore."

In his defense, McKernan claimed that he and the girl would often visit the beach, arcades, or the park, and he denied any sexual contact. However, the court found sufficient evidence to convict him of the charges.

Following the sentencing, Judge Mifflin recommended that McKernan serve at least half of his three-year sentence. Additionally, he was placed on the sex offenders' register indefinitely and issued a sexual offences prevention order, which prohibits him from having any unsupervised contact with individuals under the age of 18. The case underscores the importance of vigilance and the serious consequences of child abuse, especially when it involves exploitation of trust and innocence in a community like Barry.