JOSE PONCE FROM FFORRFHALL AND WINCH WEN SENTENCED TO 19 YEARS FOR CHILD SEX CRIMES IN SWANSEA

In a case that has shocked the Swansea community, pensioner Jose Ponce has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term of 19 years after being found guilty of multiple serious sexual offenses committed against children. The crimes span several decades, with Ponce, aged 72, having targeted vulnerable victims in the areas of Fforesthall and Winch Wen, where he resided during the time of the offenses.

The court heard that Ponce, who settled in Swansea as a refugee from Chile, committed heinous acts against six children over a period of many years. His criminal history includes raping four young girls during the 1970s and 1980s, and later, in the 1990s, indecently assaulting both a boy and a girl. The jury was also informed of how Ponce used threats to silence his victims, preventing them from reporting his crimes to authorities. These threats added a layer of intimidation and fear, making it even more difficult for victims to come forward.

Ponce, of Caerphilly Avenue in Winch Wen and formerly of Ffordd y Brain in Fforesthall, faced trial at Swansea Crown Court. Despite pleading not guilty, he was convicted after a three-week trial on charges involving five girls and one boy. The jury, composed of six men and six women, acquitted him of an additional indecent assault allegation involving another young girl from approximately 30 years ago.

Following the verdicts, Judge Keith Thomas addressed Ponce directly, emphasizing the severity of his crimes. He stated, “Offences of this sort carry only one kind of sentence — imprisonment.” The judge imposed a 19-year jail term, noting that the sentence could have been even longer had Ponce been younger. He explained that the gravity of the offenses, committed against very young victims, warranted a harsh penalty, and that the sentencing guidelines would have supported an even more severe punishment if not for Ponce’s age.

Judge Thomas highlighted the aggravating factors in the case, including the large number of victims and the frightening threats Ponce made to silence them. Prosecutor Elwen Evans QC described the case as a “catalogue of offending” that spanned many years, driven by Ponce’s desire for sexual gratification. The police investigation was initiated in December of the previous year after a male victim, now in his 20s, came forward, revealing that he had been molested by Ponce in the 1990s. This disclosure prompted other victims to revisit their past experiences and report their abuse to the authorities.

Among the victims are two women in their 40s, two women in their 30s, and one woman in her 20s. The victim whom Ponce was cleared of indecently assaulting is also in her 40s. When arrested in March of this year, Ponce denied all allegations, claiming they were “all lies.” He maintained his innocence during his testimony last month, speaking through an interpreter in Spanish. Ponce described each of his seven accusers as liars and insisted that he had told the truth.

At the conclusion of the hearing, Judge Thomas ordered that Ponce be registered as a sex offender for the remainder of his life, reflecting the seriousness of his crimes and the impact on his victims. The case has left a lasting scar on the Swansea community, highlighting the importance of vigilance and justice in protecting vulnerable children from predatory individuals.