RHYS STONE FROM WHITCHURCH SENTENCED AFTER SEXUAL ASSAULT IN CARDIFF AND PORTHKERRY PARK

In a disturbing case that has shocked the local community, Rhys Stone, a 21-year-old man from Whitchurch, was convicted of a series of heinous crimes involving a teenage girl he met online. The incident unfolded over a span of several hours and culminated in a brutal sexual assault that left the young victim deeply traumatized.

It all began in early 2020 when the girl, whose identity is protected by lifelong anonymity, was engaging with her friend via the popular live-streaming app Yubo. During their online chat, they were approached by Rhys Stone, who introduced himself and initially appeared to be a friendly presence. According to court reports, Stone asked to join their conversation, and after a brief exchange, he offered to pick them up and take them to McDonald's, a proposal that the girls initially thought was a joke. Despite her clear statement that she was in a relationship and did not wish to engage in anything inappropriate, Stone persisted.

Prosecutor Owen Williams detailed how, after collecting the girls in his vehicle, Stone began to shower the victim with compliments, calling her