GARY BALL FROM NEWPORT SENTENCED TO LIFE FOR HORRIFIC CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE CASES

In December 2013, a disturbing case unfolded in Newport involving Gary Ball, a 51-year-old man whose heinous crimes against children have shocked the local community and beyond. The court heard that Ball, residing on Rubens Close in Newport, engaged in a series of deeply disturbing sexual offenses against two young victims, acts that a judge described as “a catalogue of perversion.”

During the proceedings at Cardiff Crown Court, it was revealed that Ball subjected his victims to multiple instances of the most severe sexual assaults. One of the victims was left with lifelong psychological scars, a trauma that will likely influence their mental health and well-being for years to come. The other victim was described as being overwhelmed with guilt, a testament to the profound impact of Ball’s actions. Both victims independently characterized him as a monster, highlighting the brutality and depravity of his conduct.

Judge Neil Bidder QC, presiding over the case, emphasized the perverted nature of Ball’s tendencies. He described the offenses as “depraved,” underscoring the gravity of the crimes committed. Despite the overwhelming evidence and the jury’s conviction on four counts of serious sexual assault, four counts of rape, two counts of indecency with a child, and eight counts of indecent assault, Ball maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings.

In delivering the sentence, Judge Bidder sentenced Ball to life imprisonment, explicitly stating that he posed a high risk of reoffending and continuing to cause harm to children. The judge condemned the acts as “completely disgusting sexual acts,” emphasizing the severity of the crimes. He further noted that Ball had made his victims perform perverted acts on him, adding to the horror of the case.

Judge Bidder described both victims’ accounts as independent and consistent, reinforcing the credibility of their testimonies and the seriousness of the offenses. The court was told that Ball’s actions represented a “catalogue of perversion,” and he was deemed a significant danger to society.

Although Ball’s defense lawyer, Ieuan Bennett, did not present any mitigation, the court considered a pre-sentence report before finalizing the sentence. The judge ordered concurrent life sentences for the sexual assault and rape charges, with additional custodial sentences ranging from 18 months to seven years for the remaining charges. Ball will be required to serve a minimum of 13 years and 343 days before he can be considered for parole.

Furthermore, the court imposed an indefinite ban on Ball working with children and mandated that he remain on the sex offenders’ register for life. After the sentencing, Crown prosecutor Caroline Rees stated that the life sentence was a proper reflection of the seriousness of the crimes, emphasizing the community’s need for protection from such dangerous individuals.