PAUL JONES FROM CEFN HENGOED GUILTY OF SEXUAL ASSAULTS ON YOUNG GIRLS IN MERTHYR TYDFIL

In a case that has shocked the local community, Paul Jones, a resident of Cefn Hengoed, has been found guilty of multiple serious sexual offenses committed against two young girls over a span of more than a decade. The court proceedings revealed a disturbing pattern of abuse that took place between 1987 and 1998, with Jones facing a total of eight counts of indecent assault and six counts of rape.

Jones, who was 40 years old at the time of sentencing, denied 14 of the charges brought against him. However, after a detailed trial lasting nearly ten hours, the jury returned a verdict of guilty on eight counts. The jury also acquitted him of six other charges, indicating that the evidence was compelling enough to establish his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt on the charges he was convicted of.

The prosecution, led by Sue Ferrier at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court, painted a grim picture of systematic abuse. She stated, “The prosecution case is that he systematically assaulted them and raped them. They lived a lifetime with the memory and experience of what had taken place.” Ferrier emphasized that the abuse was carried out with “extreme regularity,” and only came to light recently when one of the victims broke down and confided in her mother.

One of the victims recounted her ordeal to the court, revealing that Jones had used threats to silence her. She explained, “He kept on telling me that if I told my mother she would never believe me and he would kill her.” The victim also described how Jones had convinced her that nobody would believe her if she spoke out, and she expressed her feelings of hatred towards him, recalling, “I hated him. I felt awful. I still remember the scratchy fingers. He kept on telling me that if I told my mother she would never believe me and he would kill her. He told me I liked it but I didn’t.”

The second victim shared her own painful memories, stating, “I know I took an instant dislike to him. I remember bits but I tried to block most of it out. It was like he was touching me all the time to take it to the next step.” She described how Jones had raped her, and she added, “It stopped because he finished.” Her testimony underscored the ongoing nature of the abuse and the trauma inflicted.

During the sentencing hearing, Recorder Christopher Clee QC addressed Jones directly, stating, “You have been convicted of a number of counts of indecent assault and one of rape. The sentence will be a lengthy prison sentence.” The court’s decision reflects the severity of the crimes committed and the impact on the victims, who have endured a lifetime of pain and fear due to Jones’s actions. The community in Cefn Hengoed and the wider area will undoubtedly be affected by this case, which highlights the importance of justice for victims of sexual abuse.