RICHARD WAINES FROM LLANDRINDOD WELLS SENTENCED FOR RAPE IN POWYS ON NEW YEAR'S DAY

In a case that has shocked the community of Llandrindod Wells, Richard Waines, aged 29, was sentenced to a total of ten years in prison following his conviction for the brutal rape of a 16-year-old girl in Powys on New Year’s Day. The incident occurred during the early hours of January 1st, as the young victim was making her way home from a nightclub in Llandrindod Wells, after celebrating the New Year with friends.

Waines appeared before Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court, where he pleaded guilty to the charge of rape. The court was told that the assault took place as the teenager was walking along a route that led her back to a friend’s house, after attending a New Year’s Eve party at the Venue nightclub in Llandrindod Wells. The details of the attack revealed a horrifying sequence of events that left a lasting impact on the victim.

According to court reports, Waines approached the girl from behind and forcibly grabbed her around the mouth, threatening her with violence by saying, “shut up or I’ll cut your throat.” The young girl, terrified and desperate to escape, attempted to flee across a nearby river, which was flowing swiftly. Despite her efforts to escape, Waines managed to catch her again, dragging her to a riverbank where the assault continued.

The court heard that during the ordeal, the girl begged Waines to let her go, but he responded with further threats, saying, “shut up or I’ll drown you in the river.” The attack was described as horrendous, leaving the victim deeply traumatized. She has since reported that she no longer sleeps alone, now sleeps with a light on, and suffers from nightmares, indicating the lasting psychological scars inflicted by the assault.

Judge Eleri Rees described the attack as a “horrendous and terrifying ordeal” for the young girl. She sentenced Waines to seven years in prison for the rape, with an additional three years on licence to follow his release. Furthermore, Waines was ordered to be placed on the sex offenders register for life, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his activities.

It was also revealed during the court proceedings that Waines had a lengthy criminal history, with 15 convictions related to 27 previous offences. However, none of these prior convictions were for sexual offences. The case has brought to light the dangers faced by young women in the community and the importance of strict sentencing for such heinous crimes.