PAUL DARNELL SENTENCED IN ABERTILLERY FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT ON WOMAN
A 73-year-old man from Abertillery, Paul Darnell, was sentenced to prison after being convicted of sexually assaulting a woman, with a judge condemning his actions as a gratuitous humiliation.
Recorder Richard Booth QC described Darnell as a "cowardly bully" and criticized how he degraded his victim.
Darnell, of Commercial Road, Llanhilleth, denied all charges but was found guilty by a jury following a trial.
The charges included assault by penetration, sexual assault, and common assault.
Prosecutor Matthew Cobbe reported that the victim provided a personal statement describing how she was terrified by Darnell.
The court was told she now suffers from flashbacks related to the incident and expressed her feelings, saying, "I feel embarrassed and ashamed of what happened.
I've never been so frightened in my life as I was on the day of the incidents.
I live like a scared animal." Kathryn Lane, representing Darnell, requested the judge consider his age and previous good character.
She also highlighted Darnell’s health problems, including anxiety, depression, diabetes, and a heart condition.
During sentencing, Recorder Booth said to Darnell: "You spanked her and, in a terrifying incident, made unwanted sexual advances and demands from your victim.
The gratuitous degradation of her was appalling.
These were the acts of a cowardly bully." Darnell was sentenced to three years in prison and will serve half of that time before being released on licence.
He is also required to register as a sex offender for life.
Additionally, he was ordered to pay an £181 victim surcharge after his release from custody.
This is a probabilistic continent or country-group signal from public name datasets. It is not proof of nationality, ethnicity or personal background.
Likely region signal
UK
Country
from United States
- based on surname
74.8%
confidence
First-name region
UK
United Kingdom
36.8%
Surname region
UK
United States
74.8%
Court Outcome
Conviction and Sentencing Details
Sentenced
Detected legal outcome
A 73-year-old man from Abertillery, Paul Darnell, was sentenced to prison after being convicted of sexually assaulting a woman, with a judge condemning his actions as a gratuitous humiliation. Recorder Richard Booth QC described Darnell ...
Prison sentence
A 73-year-old man from Abertillery, Paul Darnell, was sentenced to prison after being convicted of sexually assaulting a woman, with a judge condemning his actions as a gratuitous humiliation
Prison sentence
three years
These were the acts of a cowardly bully." Darnell was sentenced to three years in prison and will serve half of that time before being released on licence
Sex Offenders Register
for life
He is also required to register as a sex offender for life
Fine or payment
Additionally, he was ordered to pay an 181 victim surcharge after his release from custody
