SHANNON VICARY AND MICHAEL COLMER: HORRIFIC CHILD ABUSE IN NEWPORT
In April 2021, a deeply disturbing case emerged from Newport involving a couple whose actions have left a lasting scar on their young victim and the community at large.Michael Colmer, aged 45, and his partner Shannon Vicary, 24, orchestrated a series of heinous acts that included the sexual abuse of a toddler.
The pair’s malicious planning was evident as they devised ways to be alone with the child, with Vicary actively creating opportunities for Colmer to carry out his depraved intentions.
Colmer was found to possess and distribute a significant number of indecent images of children, including photographs of his own victim.
During police investigations, he admitted to being sexually attracted to children, a revelation that compounded the severity of his crimes.
Authorities discovered over 600 indecent images on his devices, with the images categorized into various levels of severity, including some depicting children younger than 18 months old.
The case was brought to light after police responded to a report at the couple’s residence on Church Road, Newport, on October 8 of the previous year.
The National Crime Agency had flagged an email address associated with the property for accessing child exploitation material.
When questioned, Colmer pointed police to his phone and iPad as the sources of the illicit images.
During police interviews, Colmer did not deny the possession of these images but acknowledged his problem and admitted to being attracted to children.
However, he refused to comment when asked if he had physically assaulted any children, and he admitted to posing a potential threat to children when he stated, “I can’t say I am not.” Further investigation revealed that Colmer had engaged in actual abuse, including filming himself performing sexual acts and taking explicit photographs of the young girl.
The abuse was facilitated by Vicary, who deliberately arranged situations that allowed Colmer to be alone with the child on two separate occasions, all while the child's mother was unaware of the sinister activities taking place.
Prosecutor Matthew Cobbe highlighted the disturbing nature of the couple’s communications, which were uncovered through WhatsApp messages.
These messages detailed their anticipation and planning of the abuse, with conversations that began with comments on photographs of children in school uniforms and gradually became sexual in nature.
Colmer sent Vicary explicit images of himself and discussed their plans for the following day, including scenarios involving the sexual abuse of the child with Vicary’s assistance.
The gravity of the case was underscored during the sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court.
The victim’s mother, whose identity remains protected, delivered a heartfelt statement describing the profound impact on her family.
She recounted the distressing medical examinations her daughter had to endure and expressed feelings of guilt and helplessness, lamenting her inability to protect her child from the horrors inflicted upon her.
Colmer pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including assault by penetration, sexual assault, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, taking indecent images, making indecent images, and possessing extreme pornographic material.
Vicary admitted to two counts of arranging a child sex offence.
Judge David Wynn Morgan condemned the actions of both individuals, describing their behavior as “almost unimaginable in its depravity.” He labeled Colmer as “a truly despicable human being” and emphasized the enormous harm inflicted not only on the young victim but also on her family.
The judge highlighted the significant risk Colmer posed to other children and sentenced him to 11 years and four months in prison, with an extended six-year license period, totaling 17 years and four months.
He will serve at least two-thirds of his sentence before being eligible for parole and was also subjected to a sexual harm prevention order.
Shannon Vicary’s sentencing was postponed to May 28 at Cardiff Crown Court, leaving her future legal consequences pending.
The case remains a stark reminder of the devastating impact of child exploitation and the importance of vigilant law enforcement in protecting vulnerable victims from such heinous crimes.
