JOHN CURRELL SENTENCED FOR INDECENT ASSAULT ON 16-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN CARDIFF
A well-known Cardiff property magnate and investor, John Currell, has been sentenced to one year in prison after being convicted of indecently assaulting a 16-year-old girl.The court proceedings took place at Cardiff Crown Court on Thursday, where the judge also ordered Currell to register as a sex offender for the next decade.
The case revealed disturbing details about the incident, which involved Currell providing transportation for the young girl and then engaging in inappropriate and unwelcome physical contact.
Court reports indicated that Currell, a Lisvane resident known to have an estimated net worth of approximately £16 million, had given the girl a lift home and subsequently touched her in a sexual manner.
He was also accused of encouraging her to remove her top, a request she refused.
During the sentencing hearing, Judge Mark Furness emphasized that Currell had been fully aware that the girl did not want him to be inside her house.
The judge stated, “You endeavored to create a sexual liaison with her and invited her to take her clothes off,” highlighting the premeditated and coercive nature of the act.
The court also heard that Currell stayed at the girl's residence until 5:30 in the morning, further crossing boundaries of appropriate conduct.
Prosecutor Nicholas Gareth-Jones detailed the sequence of events, noting that Currell had repeatedly invited the girl to remove her top, but she refused each time.
The prosecution contended that he deliberately touched her breasts, stomach, and back in a manner deemed indecent.
The court was also told that Currell called the girl afterward, urging her to keep the incident a secret—a suggestion that added to the severity of his misconduct.
In a rare moment during the proceedings, Currell addressed the court from the dock, offering a full apology to the young girl.
He expressed regret, stating, “I would like to say sorry for upsetting her,” in what appeared to be a remorseful attempt to acknowledge his actions.
John Currell's defense attorney, Morgan Jenkins, argued that the case had severely damaged Currell’s reputation.
He expressed concern about the broader impact on his client's family and business relationships, emphasizing the personal and professional hardships that the conviction had brought upon him.
This case underscores the serious nature of the allegations and highlights the importance of accountability and justice in protecting vulnerable individuals in the community of Cardiff.
