LYNDON BAINTON FROM RISCA SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ABUSE AND CHILD PORNOGRAPHY IN GWENT

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Risca and the wider Gwent area, Lyndon Bainton, a 58-year-old resident of Tan-y-Bryn, Risca, has been sentenced to a lengthy term in prison following his involvement in grooming and sexually abusing two young girls. The case was heard at Cardiff Crown Court, where details emerged of Bainton’s heinous actions that included not only sexual assault but also the production and distribution of indecent images involving minors.

According to court proceedings, Bainton had taken explicit photographs of himself during a sexual assault on one of the teenage victims. These images were part of the evidence presented, revealing the extent of his misconduct. The court was told that Bainton had encouraged the girls to strip for him, a suggestion he reportedly made to the police himself. Despite his claims that he derived no sexual gratification from these acts, the evidence and his own admissions painted a different picture.

Judge Philip Richards, presiding over the case, handed down an indeterminate sentence for the protection of the public, emphasizing the severity of Bainton’s crimes. The judge stated, “These offences involved grave humiliation of these two victims. They were subjected to experiences to which no young girl should be subjected. I am satisfied that you groomed them.” He further expressed concern about the long-term impact of Bainton’s actions, noting that “it is quite impossible to calculate what will be the long-term consequences of your behaviour.”

Prosecutor Lucy Crowther outlined that Bainton had admitted to the police that it was his idea for the girls to strip for him, although he denied any sexual gratification. The court heard that Bainton had accumulated a total of 61 indecent images, including one classified as level four, depicting a serious sexual act between an adult and a child. These images, along with the sexual activities, occurred within the current year.

In addition to the charges of sexual activity with a child and making indecent photographs, Bainton also requested that 45 other offences related to indecent images be taken into account during sentencing. Notably, he had no prior convictions for sexual offences, although he did have a history of dishonesty.

During mitigation, Eugene Egan, representing Bainton, highlighted that the defendant’s guilty pleas had spared the victims from the trauma of a trial. Egan remarked, “This is a man whose fall from grace is spectacular. The stigma will stay with him for the rest of his days.”

Outside the court, Detective Sergeant Gwyn Pigeon from the Gwent Police Child Protection Unit described the offences as “disturbing” and expressed concern about the victims’ recovery process, stating, “It will be very difficult for them to recover from their ordeal.” The case has left a lasting scar on the community of Risca, and the court’s decision underscores the seriousness with which such crimes are treated in Wales.