DEPRAVED NEWPORT PAEDOPHILE JAILED FOR CHILD ABUSE
A paedophile who showed "unimaginable levels of depravity" sexually abused a toddler after he and his girlfriend planned to be alone with their victim.Michael Colmer, 45, was branded a "truly despicable human being" after he was found with images of him abusing the child on two separate occasions, with the assistance of his partner Shannon Vicary, 24.
In disgusting WhatsApp messages, the couple from Newport discussed fantasies about what Colmer was going to do with the child while he sent pictures of his erect penis to Vicary.
Upon his arrest, Colmer was found with more than 600 indecent images of children, including images of his victim.
He also told police he was sexually attracted to children.
The mother of the child, who both have lifelong anonymity, said her family's lives had been "devastated" as a result of the pair's actions.
In a victim personal statement read out to the court, the victim's mother said her daughter had to go through a distressing medical examination as a result.
She said: "What has happened has significantly affected me.
I feel like a bad parent because because I did not know what was going on and could not protect my daughter.
I do not understand why these persons did what they did to my daughter.
I hope they are never in a position to do this to anyone else.
This has devastated me and my family." Colmer later pleaded guilty to assault by penetration, sexual assault, causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, taking indecent images, making indecent images and possessing extreme pornographic images.
Sentencing Judge David Wynn Morgan said: "This case reveals behaviour by both you and Vicary of an almost unimaginable level of depravity.
You Colmer have revealed yourself to be a truly despicable human being.
No one can assess the level of damage done to your victim but the level of harm inflicted on her mother is enormous.." "You pose a considerable risk of danger to young children." Colmer was sentenced to a term of 11 years and four months imprisonment with an extended licensing period of six years, totaling 17 years and four months.
He will serve at least two thirds of the custodial sentence before being eligible for parole.
He was also made subject to a sexual harm prevention order.
Vicary's sentence was adjourned to May 28 at Cardiff Crown Court.
Following the hearing, Gwent Police officer Chloe Collins expressed support, stating: "I welcome the sentence given today.
This was a complex and very sensitive investigation due to the nature of the offending and I am grateful for the work of our Cybercrime Unit." "I hope that the result today offers some comfort to the child involved and her family.
They have shown such resilience in what has been an extremely difficult and upsetting time for them."
