GRAHAM ROGERS FROM LLANELLI SENTENCED FOR REPEATED CHILD SEX ABUSE IN LLANDEILO AND LLANGENNECH

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community, Graham Harry John Rogers, a resident of Llanelli, has been sentenced to prison once again for heinous acts of child sexual abuse committed in and around Llanelli, including the areas of Llangennech and Llandeilo. The recent convictions follow a series of investigations that uncovered the extent of Rogers' depraved conduct, which spanned over two decades and involved multiple young victims.

Rogers, aged 66 at the time of sentencing, was found guilty of abusing young girls in separate incidents that had previously gone unprosecuted due to a lack of sufficient evidence. The court heard that the first victim, who came forward after reading about Rogers in the newspapers, had reported her assault to authorities more than 20 years ago. Despite her report, the Crown Prosecution Service decided not to pursue charges at that time, citing the absence of corroborating evidence. This decision was described by the judge as reflective of the approach to such cases during that period.

The court was informed that Rogers had a history of sexual offending, including a 2018 conviction for sexually assaulting a young girl and taking explicit photographs of the abuse. It was during this investigation that police uncovered a second victim, a girl aged six or seven, whom Rogers had also assaulted by touching her breasts. The first victim had reported her abuse to her mother and subsequently to the police, but prosecutors at the time believed there was little chance of conviction without additional evidence.

During the recent trial, victims' impact statements revealed the profound and lasting damage caused by Rogers’ actions. They described how the abuse had robbed them of their childhoods, leaving them withdrawn, troubled, and distrustful of men. The court heard that Rogers had exploited opportunities to commit his crimes in a calculated and sly manner, displaying clear signs of a paedophile with 'selfish, degenerate and deviant sexual needs,' as described by Judge Huw Rees.

Rogers had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of indecent assault of a child. In his sentencing, the judge emphasized the seriousness of his offences, noting his enduring sexual interest in children and his manipulative behavior. The court sentenced him to a total of five-and-a-half years in prison, with the understanding that he would serve up to half of that term before being released on licence. Additionally, Rogers will be registered as a sex offender for life and subject to strict monitoring measures.

Further details from 2018 reveal that Rogers, then aged 63, had taken photographs of himself abusing a young girl, an act that was only uncovered after forensic analysis recovered deleted images from his mobile phone. The police found 34 indecent images of the girl, including categories B and C, which depict more extreme forms of abuse. The victim’s mother described her daughter’s suffering as a “nightmare,” noting her change from a happy child to one plagued by nightmares and tears.

In court, Rogers expressed shock upon discovering the evidence, though prosecutors suggested his reaction might have been due to the incriminating nature of the recovered images. His guilty pleas to multiple charges resulted in a combined sentence of four years, with the terms running concurrently. He will serve half of this sentence before being released on licence, and he remains on the sex offenders register for life. To prevent further harm, Rogers was also subjected to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, restricting his access to young girls and ensuring ongoing supervision of his activities.

The case has once again highlighted the importance of vigilance and the need for persistent investigation in cases of child abuse, especially those that have been initially overlooked or dismissed due to lack of evidence. The community of Llanelli and surrounding areas continues to grapple with the impact of Rogers’ actions, and authorities remain committed to protecting vulnerable children from such predatory behavior.