January 2023

Convicted child rapist spotted in Torquay Sainsburys 

UPDATE: Howells has now been released and is living in Paignton in Devon

August 2005

Child rapist jailed for 12 years

A paedophile who subjected his victim to an unforgivable catalogue of rape and abuse is today behind bars.

Kevin John Howells, 33, admitted 25 offences including 13 counts of rape, five counts of indecent assault and four of making indecent photographs of a child.

He also admitted one charge of indecent assault on another young girl under the age of 16.

As he was jailed for 12 years, he was also ordered to serve an indeterminate sentence for offences of rape and indecent assault committed after changes in the law on April 4 this year.

For the later offences he will be subject for parole at the discretion of the Secretary of State following a case Judge John Curran described as one of the worst he had come across.

Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court heard that Howells, of Thomas Street, Treharris, verbally abused his main victim, made her fearful of him and too scared to reveal what was happening to her.

When he was arrested earlier this year he admitted having sex with her, saying she had wanted it to stop but it did not.

In his defence, Thomas Crowther said: ‘What has been done in this case is unforgivable, many will regard it as inhuman, many will wonder is he redeemable at all.

‘Given it has happened all he can do is express his remorse.’

Judge Curran said: ‘You abused her in a dreadful way.

‘You indulged yourself in just about every sordid way there could be by subjecting this girl to every kind of indignity she could be subjected to.’

Howells was banned from working with children for life and will remain on licence for the protection of the public for a minimum of 10 years.

Judge Curran also made an order that the equipment and indecent images made by Howells be destroyed.