A 49-year-old former Llanelli man Arwyn Cellan Thomas has been sentenced to 22 years in prison for horrific sexual crimes against children. Thomas who’s last address was Morriston in Swansea collapsed in court after the sentence was read out. Earlier in the trial impact statements from some of his victims were read out in court.
Thomas had been found guilty of five charges of indecent assault, six charges of sexual assault of a child under the age of 13, three charges of rape of a child under the age of 13, and assault of a child under 13 by penetration.
Following the trial temporary Detective Inspector Phil Rowe said: “After a protracted and thorough investigation by Carmarthenshire Protecting Vulnerable People Unit into reports of non-recent sexual assaults, 49 year old Arwyn Cellan Thomas from Swansea was charged with a number of offences of a sexual nature. Arwyn Cellan Thomas denied the allegations throughout, but he was found guilty at Swansea Crown Court of three offences of Rape and 13 offences of Sexual Assault against 3 separate victims. We sincerely hope that this result gives the victims some sense of justice. They have shown great dignity and braveness throughout this process, and in the decision to come forward to report the offences in the first instance. They have finally seen the person who did them so much harm brought to justice.
“I hope this considerable sentence gives victims of non-recent assault or abuse confidence in reporting such matters to the police, and that Dyfed-Powys Police will do everything in its power to conduct thorough investigations and bring offenders to justice.”
Editor
From Llanelli Wales. Worked in education and media for most of my career. Now working as a freelance journalist. Interested in World events, politics, education. Specialist area is social and journalistic photography.
