Locations
Tweedsmuir Road, Cardiff, CF24
Description
Victims of an abuser who committed sex acts on children while under 18 were left feeling suicidal, with one saying the ordeal ruined her life.
Kai Lewis, now 29, sexually assaulted his first victim starting when she was of primary school age and he was in his mid-teens. At Cardiff Crown Court on Friday, the hearing revealed he abused his second victim, also of primary school age, when he was in his late teens. Lewis, of Tweedsmuir Road in Tremorfa, Cardiff, was convicted.
One victim realized the abuse was wrong during school sex education, while the other understood it during a sleepover.
In her victim personal statement, the first victim said: "I am not going to sit here and say this hasn't defined my life, it has. It has ruined my life and changed me as a person. I have been abused by this man since I was a child and it has shaped the person I am today.
"I was not able to have a normal childhood or teenage years like my friends and it has had an impact on all adult aspects of my life. I have not been able to form healthy relationships or trust another man in my life."
She described severe mental health impacts, including flashbacks and multiple suicide attempts, adding: "The image of him still haunts me to this day. I see his face in all men around me and ask myself if it will ever get better. I will never be able to get over the abuse."
The second victim stated: "I am making this statement to express my feelings of how the abuse has impacted my life. He made me feel disgusting and that I need to scrub my skin at all times. I can feel his hands on me and have vivid dreams about it happening all over again.
"He made me feel vulnerable and scared of all men, I fear any man can assault me, not only him.
"I can't remember my childhood, I think I was trying to block out all the memories... I am on anti depressants, struggling with my mental health and felt like I wanted to end my life. I am getting flashbacks triggered by random things. I feel disgusting in my own body and will never feel clean or good enough.
"I feel like I am finally getting the justice I deserve after such a long period of time and I'm looking forward to starting the process of healing."
Lewis denied the charges but was convicted after trial of assault by penetration, causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, and two counts of sexual activity with a child.
Prosecutor Kathryn Lane said: "(The victims) thought the defendant's behaviour was normal as they were so young when it occurred. They were unaware this ought not to be happening." The victims later reported separately to police.
In mitigation, Heath Edwards noted Lewis committed the offenses as a youth, is registered blind, unemployed, and lives an unstructured life. Lewis has one prior robbery conviction.
Judge Richard Kember sentenced Lewis as if he were under 18 at the time, imposing four years and six months' imprisonment, plus an indefinite restraining order, sex offender notification requirements, and an eight-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.