LEE WYMAN SENTENCED FOR APPALLING SEXUAL ABUSE IN PONTYPOOL

In a case that has shocked the community of Pontypool, a man named Lee Whyman has been convicted of a series of heinous sexual offenses committed against a vulnerable child. The court heard that Whyman, aged 57, was responsible for a pattern of disturbing and systematic abuse spanning several years, which ultimately led to his imprisonment for more than 17 years.

Details of the case reveal that the abuse took place between 1994 and 1999, during which the victim was between the ages of nine and thirteen. An additional assault was reported when the victim was 17 years old. The severity and nature of the offenses were laid out during the proceedings at Stafford Crown Court on February 21, where the prosecution, led by Mr. Jonathan Dickenson, described the disturbing extent of Whyman’s actions.

According to court reports, Whyman, who resides on Penygraig Terrace in Pontypool, used threats and intimidation to silence the victim whenever she contemplated seeking help or confiding in friends or family. He allegedly told her that no one would believe her if she spoke out, a tactic that kept her silent for years. Despite these threats, the victim eventually reported the abuse in 1999. However, she later withdrew her complaint and was compelled to apologize to Whyman, a decision that added to her trauma.

The judge, Micheal Chambers, was presented with a powerful impact statement from the victim, who described how the abuse robbed her of her childhood and profoundly affected her perceptions of sexual relationships throughout her life. The court was also informed that the victim later developed anxiety and depression, conditions that were exacerbated by her court testimony.

During the sentencing phase, the court considered the implications of the Sexual Offences Act of 2003, which altered sentencing guidelines from those established under the 1956 Act, noting that the offenses predated the newer legislation. The court was told that Whyman has not committed any further offenses since 2001 and is considered to be at a low risk of reoffending.

Judge Micheal Chambers addressed the court, emphasizing the gravity of the crimes, which included two counts of rape. He described the offenses as a “gross breach of trust of a vulnerable child” and highlighted the systematic nature of the abuse. The judge ordered that the sentences for the various counts be served concurrently, resulting in a total prison term of 17 and a half years. Whyman was informed that he could be eligible for parole or release on license after serving half of his sentence, subject to assessment.

This case underscores the devastating impact of sexual abuse on victims and the importance of justice in holding offenders accountable, especially when the crimes involve the betrayal of trust placed in them by vulnerable individuals in communities like Pontypool.