James Carr, a 68-year-old convicted paedophile and former Royal Navy serviceman, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for raping and sexually abusing a young boy in what a judge described as a 'campaign of abuse'. The abuse left the victim feeling 'less than a man' and 'devoid of worth', the court heard.
Details of the Abuse
Carr, of Bridgend, committed the offences against a young boy, beginning with forceful kissing and touching of the victim's penis before escalating to rape. Judge Jeremy Jenkins, presiding at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court on Wednesday, stated that the abuse had a 'devastating effect' on the victim and would 'live with him for the rest of his life'. The court was told that the victim attempted suicide on several occasions and underwent therapy as a result.
Weapons and Previous Convictions
During the sentencing, it emerged that Carr kept weapons at his home, including a machete, because he was 'preparing for the end of the world'. In 2018, he was convicted of possessing indecent images of children and admitted to watching such material for 14 years. That conviction prompted the victim to come forward and report the abuse.
Victim Impact Statement
In a victim personal statement read to the court by Mark Wyeth KC, the victim said: 'When I was asked how (the defendant's) actions affected me I was too overwhelmed to write anything. I was sat in tears thinking how my life would have been had I not endured him. It took me several years to get the courage to say what he had done to me. I felt dirty and used for most of my life, devoid of worth and unworthy of other people's lives. He made me feel like it was my fault and what I deserved. I hid myself from the world in every sense of the word. He made me feel less than a man. For so long I held the secret. I've found it difficult to bond with and trust other males. What he did was twist me into the person I am today. I've had trouble staying in jobs and since I reported the crime I have experienced higher levels of fear and anxiety.'
Mitigation and Sentence
In mitigation, David Pinnell said Carr had served in the Royal Navy, stationed in locations including the Falkland Islands and the Arctic, and had acted as a carer for his parents. Despite this, Carr was convicted of rape, attempted buggery, and indecent assault. He was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment, of which he will serve two-thirds before being eligible for parole. Additionally, he was made subject to sex offender notification requirements, a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, and a restraining order for life.
