JOHN POWELL FROM LLANELLI SENTENCED FOR ABUSE IN SHOCKING CASE

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Llanelli, John William Powell, aged 39, faced the court in a highly distressing courtroom scene. During the proceedings, Powell, who had been charged with multiple counts of sexual abuse, chose not to confront the families of his victims directly.

Initially, Powell briefly entered the courtroom, but as over twenty family members, visibly upset and distraught, made their way into the public gallery, he made a sudden decision. He retreated to a holding cell, which was out of sight from the courtroom, and refused to reappear to face the victims' families. This act of refusal underscored the gravity of the case and the shame associated with his actions.

Judge Paul Thomas, presiding over the case at Swansea Crown Court, sentenced Powell in his absence to five years in prison. The judge described Powell’s actions as driven by “warped” sexual urges that led him to carry out a “campaign” of abuse against four young victims. The court was informed that three of these victims were all just eight years old at the time of the abuse.

Details of the abuse revealed that Powell had manipulated and terrorized these young girls, even asking one of them to make a “pinky promise” not to tell her mother about what he had done. In a particularly sickening incident, after assaulting another girl, Powell asked her, “Did you enjoy that?” adding to the horror of his actions.

His crimes extended beyond Llanelli, with one attack involving an 11-year-old boy at a caravan park in Aberystwyth. Powell also exposed himself to two of the girls and committed lewd acts in front of them, further illustrating the extent of his predatory behavior.

The prosecution, led by Patrick Griffiths, revealed that Powell was arrested after traveling from Carmarthenshire to Merthyr Tydfil. During his arrest, Powell attempted to downplay his actions, claiming, “It was a game that got out of hand.”

It was also disclosed that Powell had a criminal history dating back to when he was 14, including convictions for two counts of gross indecency with a child. This history highlighted a disturbing pattern of behavior that spanned many years.

Judge Thomas addressed the families present, reassuring them that they should not blame themselves for Powell’s actions. He explained that Powell’s sexual attraction to children caused him to lose all self-control, and that his behavior was driven by uncontrollable urges. The judge emphasized that Powell had deliberately engineered situations to carry out his abuse once his urges became overwhelming.

As part of his sentence, Powell received an extended custodial term, with five years in prison. However, he is expected to be released after serving approximately two and a half years. Despite his release, he will remain on license for the next eight years and will be registered as a sex offender for life, ensuring ongoing monitoring and restrictions.

This case has left a lasting impact on the Llanelli community, highlighting the importance of vigilance and the need for continued efforts to protect vulnerable children from predators like John Powell.