PAUL LEWIS FROM BRECON SENTENCED TO 15 YEARS FOR CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE AND GROOMING CASE

In a case that has shocked the community of Brecon, a 72-year-old man named Paul Lewis has been handed a lengthy prison sentence after being convicted of multiple heinous sexual offences involving a young girl. The sentencing took place at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court on February 14, 2025, following a detailed trial that revealed the extent of his disturbing history of abuse.

Lewis, who resides at Pen y Fan Close in Libanus, Brecon, was found guilty of grooming and raping a child, with the abuse spanning over eight years. The court heard during the proceedings in January 2025 that the victim, who was only nine years old when the abuse began, endured a relentless campaign of sexual assault and manipulation by Lewis. The victim’s ordeal only ended when she found the strength to escape at the age of 17.

The jury convicted Lewis on two counts of rape, five counts of indecent assault, and one count of gross indecency with a child. The evidence presented during the trial painted a disturbing picture of grooming and sustained sexual violence inflicted upon the young girl. Lewis’s actions, which persisted for nearly a decade, have left deep scars on the victim, who bravely testified about her suffering.

This case is not Lewis’s first encounter with the law related to child exploitation. In 2004, he was convicted of possessing and distributing indecent images of children. Police investigations uncovered that he possessed a staggering collection of 11,539 indecent images and 208 movies depicting child abuse. Further inquiries revealed that Lewis was an active member of 738 online chatrooms and groups dedicated to sharing and fantasizing about child sexual abuse images and videos, highlighting a disturbing pattern of predatory behavior.

For these previous offences, Lewis received an 18-month prison sentence and was ordered to register as a sex offender for ten years. However, his recent crimes have demonstrated a continued pattern of predatory conduct, leading to his current 15-year sentence, with a minimum of ten years to be served before eligibility for parole. Judge Jeremy Jackson, presiding over the case, expressed strong condemnation of Lewis’s actions, stating that the defendant had shown no remorse for the suffering caused. The judge also noted that Lewis denied all charges despite the compelling evidence against him.

During the sentencing, a witness recounted an upsetting incident where Lewis mouthed the word ‘liars’ at the victim’s family, further illustrating his lack of remorse. As part of his punishment, Lewis will be placed on the sex offenders register for life and is subject to a sexual harm prevention order that prohibits him from contacting any child under the age of 16.

The victim, in a heartfelt statement read aloud in court, described the profound impact of the abuse on her life. She shared that she was just a little girl when the abuse started and that she had longed to report it but lacked the strength to do so at the time. She revealed that she suffers from nightmares, flashbacks, and has been diagnosed with Complex PTSD as a result of her trauma. The emotional toll on her family has also been significant, with her describing the court proceedings as the most difficult experience she has ever faced.

Overall, the case underscores the importance of vigilance and justice in protecting vulnerable children from predators like Paul Lewis, whose actions have caused lifelong suffering to his victims and community alike.