KARL GETTINGS OF NEWPORT SENTENCED TO 24 YEARS FOR BRUTAL CHILD ABUSE AND TORTURE
In December 2018, a deeply disturbing case emerged from Newport involving Karl Gettings, a 56-year-old man whose actions have left a lasting scar on his victims.Gettings, residing in Llanmartin, Newport, was convicted of a series of heinous crimes that spanned decades, including the brutal abuse and torture of his three young sons, as well as multiple counts of child cruelty, threats to kill, and assault causing actual bodily harm.
The court proceedings revealed a chilling history of violence that dated back to the 1980s and 1990s, originating from the family home in Newport.
The judge, Tracey Lloyd-Clarke, described the case as one of the most severe instances of child cruelty to be heard at Cardiff Crown Court.
The victims, now adults, sat in the courtroom and embraced each other upon hearing the sentence, a testament to the enduring trauma inflicted upon them.
Throughout the trial, detailed accounts of relentless physical abuse emerged.
The three boys endured repeated beatings, often inflicted with fists, headbutts, and strangulation, sometimes until they lost consciousness.
The abuse was not limited to physical violence; the court heard of severe psychological torment as well.
One victim, in a heartfelt impact statement, recounted how Gettings was brutal and tortured him, instilling fear for his life.
He described how Gettings called him a waste of human being and expressed a wish that he was dead.
A second victim also provided a statement, revealing the profound mental scars left by the abuse.
He explained, “He made me feel worthless.
I’ve suffered mental health issues as a result of the constant abuse.
The scars heal but the mental pain has never left me.
I still feel it today and I don’t think it will ever go away.” The abuse extended beyond physical violence.
The court heard of incidents where Gettings kicked, whipped, stamped upon, and struck his children with objects, causing injuries that often resulted in weeks of missed schooling.
One particularly disturbing episode involved Gettings taping lit cigarettes to a child's mouth to “teach him a lesson.” On another occasion, he chased one of his sons in his van for over a mile along a narrow country lane, purportedly to “pass a test.” The trauma was so severe that one of the children attempted to take his own life at the age of 12.
Judge Lloyd-Clarke emphasized the brutality and sadistic nature of the violence, stating, “It was brutal and sadistic violence.
The physical injuries have healed but the mental scars will be with these victims for the rest of their lives.
They were virtually trained by [Gettings] to use violence as a weapon to deal with every day life.” Gettings, who was not present in court to hear his sentence, refused to come out of his prison cell.
He is currently serving a 24-year sentence for other serious crimes, including rapes, sexual assaults, unlawful wounding, and indecent assaults.
The judge condemned his absence, describing him as “a bully and a coward who has refused to face his victims because he knows what he has done.” In a final note, Judge Lloyd-Clarke expressed hope that the conviction would help the victims move forward with their lives.
A restraining order was also issued, prohibiting Gettings from making any contact with his victims, ensuring their safety and peace of mind moving forward.
