KEVIN BAGBY SENTENCED FOR RAPE IN CONNAH'S QUAY: TEN-YEAR-OLD CRIME LEADS TO NINE-YEAR PRISON TERM

In September 2019, a man from Connah's Quay was handed a significant prison sentence after admitting to the heinous crime of raping a teenage girl a decade earlier. Kevin Bagby, aged 49, pleaded guilty to six separate charges related to the abuse, which spanned over a year and left lasting emotional scars on the victim.

According to court records, Bagby had engaged in a prolonged period of abuse against the girl, during which he had manipulated her by providing alcohol and exploiting her vulnerability. The victim, who was a minor at the time, found the courage to come forward and report the abuse only last year, leading to Bagby's arrest and subsequent court proceedings.

The case was heard at Mold Crown Court, where Judge Rhys Rowlands delivered the verdict. During the sentencing, the judge emphasized the devastating impact of Bagby's actions, stating that he had effectively destroyed the girl’s life. The court heard that Bagby’s defense team attempted to justify his behavior by citing personal issues, including unhappiness in his marriage at the time and developing inappropriate feelings for the girl. However, Judge Rowlands expressed concern over Bagby’s apparent perception of the girl as more mature than her actual age, which he found particularly troubling.

A victim impact statement, read aloud by prosecutor Andrew Green, detailed the profound and lasting effects of the abuse. The statement revealed that the girl had struggled to form trusting relationships since the incident, had fallen into depression, and engaged in self-harm. These emotional scars underscored the severity of the trauma inflicted upon her.

During the proceedings, Bagby’s defense lawyer, Oliver King, acknowledged his client’s acceptance of full responsibility. King also noted that Bagby had not attempted to deny the charges, unlike others in similar situations, and expressed that his client would carry the stigma of his actions for the rest of his life. Despite this, the court found the evidence compelling enough to impose a substantial sentence.

Kevin Bagby, who resides on Linden Avenue in Connah's Quay, was convicted of six offences, including four counts of sexual assault and two counts of rape. As part of his punishment, he was sentenced to nine years in prison and was ordered to register as a sex offender for life. Additionally, an indefinite sexual harm prevention order was issued, prohibiting him from having any unsupervised contact with girls under the age of 16. These measures aim to protect other minors from potential harm and reflect the seriousness of his crimes.