A convicted child sex offender described as a “monster” by his victim has died just months after beginning a lengthy prison sentence. Terrence Hulme, 88, was serving an 18-year term at HMP Parc in Bridgend when he became unwell and was transferred to hospital, where he died on September 20, 2024.
Decades of abuse spanning the 1950s to 1970s
Hulme was sentenced in October 2023 after being found guilty of a sustained “campaign” of sexual abuse against a child that began when she was just two years old and continued into her teenage years. Court proceedings heard that he used threats of violence and intimidation to silence her for decades, according to Wales Online.
At his sentencing at Cardiff Crown Court, it emerged that Hulme had also sexually abused a second young girl who had kept her suffering secret for decades. He denied all allegations, forcing both victims to give evidence at trial.
Victim impact statements
In statements read to the court, the primary victim called Hulme a “monster” and “vile and depraved”, describing how she had spent decades “suppressing the horrors of my early life”. The second victim said she had never found the courage to report the abuse for fear of not being believed.
Hulme, previously of Arael View, Abertillery, was convicted of 10 counts of rape and three of indecent assault. The offending took place at various locations. Judge Daniel Williams told Hulme that the “grave nature” of his offending did not allow the court to act mercifully, saying he had “waged a campaign of rape” against one victim and “routinely used violence” to prevent her from reporting the abuse.
Death in custody and Ombudsman review
As is standard procedure for all deaths in custody, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman independently reviewed Hulme’s death. The report found that he died of central nervous system lymphoma, a rare type of cancer that starts in the lymphatic cells of the brain or spinal cord. Ischaemic heart disease, which reduces blood supply to the heart muscle due to blocked or narrowed arteries, also contributed to his death.
Clinical care received by Hulme was reviewed by Healthcare Inspectorate Wales. The reviewer found that the clinical care at HMP Parc was “equivalent to that which he could have expected to receive in the community”. Hulme had access to a range of health services and received “appropriate care”, the reviewer added. Eight recommendations were made by the clinical reviewer.
Sentence and aftermath
Hulme was sentenced to 18 years in prison and was ordered to serve up to two-thirds of that period in custody. His death occurred just months after his incarceration began in late 2023.
