A St Athan Paedophile, John Hawker, systematically sexually assaulted a minor after a prolonged period of grooming. The victim stated that the abuse continues to affect her adversely, expressing, “I no longer feel like myself.”
John Hawker, 25, egregiously mistreated the girl, commencing with his “inappropriate touching” of her during her childhood. She repeatedly informed her attacker that she was “not interested” in sexual activities and requested that he cease, nevertheless he attempted to manipulate her with bribes of chocolate and gifts to get her “confidence and trust”.
During a sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Monday, it was revealed that the youngster was asleep when she awoke experiencing pain and discomfort. She recognised that John Hawker was assaulting her and attempted to resist in order to dislodge him, but the defendant continued his actions. Judge Jeremy Jenkins informed the court that John Hawker had violated the victim’s virginity during the assault. He stated, “This was her initiation into sexual activity.”
The girl was raped on a number of occasions by John Hawker. The abuse became less frequent when the defendant learnt the girl had spoken to police about sexual abuse she had suffered at the hands of another man.
Judge Jenkins said: “You no doubt realised she had the courage to tell the police about other abuse, you became wary of your own predicament and started to ease off.” John Hawker, of Pant y Celyn Place, St Athan, Vale of Glamorgan, was later arrested and police found images of child abuse on a device which belonged to him.
The defendant denied seven counts of rape, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child but he was found guilty by a jury following a trial. The court heard he was of previous good character.
In a video interview played to the court, the victim described the impact the abuse had had on her. She said: “I haven’t been going to school because of what happened, I don’t think people understand. Everything is just so difficult… I don’t really go out much any more. I used to go out all the time and now I don’t anymore. I’m stuck in my room watching TV. I don’t really sleep as much.
“I am always feeling ill, when I talk about it I am always feeling ill and my chest gets really heavy, that’s one of the reasons I don’t go to school as much as people be always asking about it…. I used to be a people person but I don’t feel like me anymore.” When asked about her feeling towards Hawker, she said: “I don’t feel anything towards him”. The girl said she was “angry” at what the defendant had put her through.
Defence barrister Susan Ferrier said there was “little she could say” in mitigation due to the her client’s not guilty pleas. She said the defendant, John Hawker, was aware he would receive a “substantial” prison sentence and would lose the years of his youth as a result.
Judge Jenkins sentenced Hawker to a total of 12 years imprisonment. He was also made subject to sex offender notification requirements and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for the rest of his life.
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