HARVEY VINCENT PORTH TEENAGER SENTENCED FOR RAPE IN CARDIFF AFTER ATTACK IN PORTH

In September 2023, a disturbing case unfolded involving Harvey Vincent, an 18-year-old from Porth, who was convicted of raping an 18-year-old woman in her own bed. The incident took place after Vincent assaulted the victim while he believed she was asleep, despite her clear refusal to engage in any sexual activity. The victim, who has chosen to remain anonymous, described how the assault has profoundly changed her life, leaving her feeling no longer the same person she was before the attack.

According to court proceedings at Cardiff Crown Court, Vincent had just celebrated his 18th birthday when he committed the assault. The victim had explicitly told him that she did not want to have sex, but Vincent ignored her boundaries. He forcibly engaged with her while she was awake but unable to resist, overwhelmed by fear. The court heard that Vincent first sexually assaulted her and then proceeded to have non-consensual sex, disregarding her lack of response and her obvious distress.

At the time of the attack, Vincent was under the influence of cocaine and alcohol, which the court acknowledged as factors in his behavior. Following the incident, the victim reported the assault to the police. Vincent, of North Road, Porth, initially denied the charges, but after a trial, a jury found him guilty of rape and sexual assault by penetration. The court noted that Vincent was of previous good character, which was considered during sentencing.

In her victim personal statement, the woman expressed the deep psychological scars left by the assault. She recounted how Harvey Vincent’s actions have haunted her, stating, “Where do I start? Harvey raped me when I was just 18-years-old. I was just leaving school… For him to do this to me hurts more than the act itself. He raped my mind and my body, and I will never be able to trust someone like that again.” She described how she has gained strength through her ordeal but also emphasized the lasting damage, saying, “I am not the same person I was. Everything I’ve gone through, he needs to understand the damage he’s done. I never feel clean, and my skin crawls. When I think or speak about this, I need to shower. I don’t like sex anymore… My body doesn’t feel like my own.”

The victim also shared her struggles with night terrors, waking up screaming and shouting Vincent’s name. She revealed that her active, sporty lifestyle has been severely impacted, as she now avoids contact sports and dislikes being touched. She criticized the justice system, describing it as re-victimizing and punishing victims, and expressed a sense of resilience, stating, “I feel sorry for you, Vincent, and for your friends and family. This has changed my entire life. I realize there is life after rape; it’s up to me to make it work. I will never feel responsible for this, and I will build a successful life despite what he did to me. I will walk with my head held high, and he will not control my future.”

Judge Paul Hobson, addressing the court, acknowledged the severe psychological harm inflicted on the victim. He noted that she had engaged in self-harm and had suicidal thoughts since the assault. The judge emphasized that Vincent’s actions, both big and small, had profoundly altered her life. Vincent, now aged 20, was sentenced to five years in a young offenders’ institution. The court ordered that he serve two-thirds of this sentence before being released on license. The sentence was reduced from the initial seven-and-a-half years due to Vincent’s “immaturity.”

Additionally, Vincent was ordered to register as a sex offender indefinitely and was subjected to a restraining order lasting ten years. The court’s decision reflects the seriousness of the crime and the lasting impact on the victim’s mental health and well-being.