MARK SEWELL, JEHOVAH'S WITNESS CHURCH ELDER IN BARRY, SENTENCED TO 14 YEARS FOR SEXUAL ABUSE

A depraved Jehovah's Witness church elder from Barry, Mark Sewell, has been sentenced to 14 years in prison after being convicted of multiple historic sex offences involving women and girls. The 53-year-old, who previously worked as a driver at Butlins holiday camp, was found guilty of eight counts of sexual assault against four women following a three-week trial at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court.

During sentencing, the judge, Richard Twomlow, described Sewell as a "predator" who showed "not a shred of remorse" for his actions. Addressing Sewell directly, the judge stated, "You caused upset and distress to varying extents in the lives of our people. Two in particular suffered years of distress and a feeling of being ignored and disbelieved." Sewell, who was appearing via video link from Parc Prison in Bridgend, appeared tense, frowning and sometimes closing his eyes, dressed in a black short-sleeved polo shirt.

The jury last week convicted Sewell of sexual assaults against two young girls in the Barry Jehovah's Witness congregation over 20 years ago. He was also found guilty of raping a fellow church member, an attack that left her with shredded underwear and resulted in her becoming pregnant. Additionally, Sewell was convicted of indecently assaulting another woman by rubbing his groin against her while she was preparing tea.

Sewell had denied nine charges spanning more than eight years but was convicted of six, with jurors acquitting him of one. The court reviewed four additional counts of indecent assault, returning not guilty verdicts on three of them.

The judge highlighted Sewell’s manipulation, revealing that he groomed his first victim and coerced her into silence. "She had the courage, though, recently to bring these matters forward again and at last has seen you brought to account for what you have done to her, which has had a tremendous effect on her and her family over the years," said Twomlow. Sewell exploited his position of trust within the Jehovah's Witness community to prey upon young girls, using influence to conceal his actions.

The court dismissed Sewell’s claim that the raped woman had "controlled" him, firmly rejecting it. The judge explained, "You wanted a relationship with her and tried to persuade her to run off with you." The attack was described as a "brief and violent rape" that Sewell denied for years. "The consequences of your denial have been very significant to the victim," added Twomlow, noting she had carried the burden of knowing what Sewell did to her for years.

A stark moment in the trial involved the father of Sewell’s third victim catching Sewell giving his school-aged daughter a topless massage. The judge characterized Sewell's response as "typically aggressive, self-justifying and blustering," where he told the father to "get out even though you were in the wrong."

Sewell also indecently assaulted a final victim by rubbing against her in a more relentless attempt to influence her into accepting his "lascivious suggestions" and engaging in sex. As a result, Sewell was sentenced to a total of 14 years imprisonment.

His sentence comprises several parts: for three counts of indecent assault against his first victim, he received concurrent four-and-a-half-year sentences; for rape, a consecutive six-and-a-half-year term; three indecent assaults against his third victims carry two-year terms that run concurrently but sequentially to his other sentences; and an additional one-year sentence for the final indecent assault, making the total span 14 years.

Sewell showed no reaction as the sentence was read. He is also ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life, prohibited from working with children, and required to pay a £120 victim surcharge.

The court previously heard how Sewell used his respected position as a Jehovah’s Witness elder to manipulate women and children for his own sexual gratification. Prosecutor Sarah Waters described him as a "sexual predator" who exploited his influence, with witnesses recounting how Sewell would kiss women and children on the lips, sometimes with his tongue, and offer alcohol in exchange for kisses. The court detailed how Sewell would give topless massages to a teenage girl, further evidencing his abuse.