A RAPIST described by a judge at Cardiff crown court as “an evil man” has received a sentence for public protection.
Judge Stephen Hopkins directed that 39-year-old Anthony Symonds not be considered for release by the parole board until he has served a minimum of eight years imprisonment.
Symonds, formerly of Trannon Court, Thornhill, Cwmbran, but who is of no fixed abode, had been found guilty of seven charges of rape.
He admitted a charge of dangerous driving involving purposefully driving his vehicle at a car containing his victim.
Prosecutor Marion Lewis said the offences occurred in the Cwmbran area when the victim was aged between 13 and 18.
Symonds denied the allegations of rape and claimed the girl had seduced him.
The judge called Symonds an evil man and said he had been obsessed with the girl.
He said he had spoken to her inappropriately about sexual matters, began touching her indecently which progressed to rape.
Judge Hopkins called Symonds her “tormentor.”
He was, he said, a bully, a thoroughly intimidating man.
He had once followed the girl to Cwmbran and headbutted her mother.
Later, he deliberately drove at the victim’s car.
“This was a desperate and potentially lethal attempt to stop her complaining of rape. The car was totally destroyed.”
In a fit of histrionics said the judge he had harmed himself.
He told him “You stole that girl’s innocence and corrupted her.
“What psychological damage you have caused only time will tell.
“You have shown not a hint of remorse and you came across to me as a cold man without any conscience.
“I truly believe you to be an evil man.”
The judge said he represented a high risk of harming a member of the public.
On release, he said he must register as a sex offender for life. He was also banned from working with children for life and will be on licence for life.
In addition, he was disqualified from driving for eight years.
A Gwent Police spokeswoman said: “We are pleased the court recognised the seriousness of the offence and has put in place measures so that the risk posed by the individual can be monitored when he is released.”
