Rhys Warren was said to have ‘no concern’ for the young schoolgirl who he raped, with the victim struggling to sleep and suffering with nightmares since the attack
A man who forced a schoolgirl to her knees on a footpath and raped her later claimed he could not remember carrying out the sickening attack.
Rhys Warren, who had been drinking heavily, came across the young girl by chance in the Abertillery area of Wales. The 20-year-old first tried to kiss the girl and bit her on the lip, Cardiff Crown Court heard.
Moments after Warren told the girl he wanted to “f*** her”, the victim broke free and tried to escape. The court heard the predator kicked her legs from under her and when she was on her knees he forced himself on her while holding her head with his hands, Wales Online reports.
The victim, who is now on medication, has since been struggling to sleep and has suffered with nightmares, a statement read to the court revealed. The girl admitted her school work had suffered as a result of the attack, while she is also now scared to go out.
After the attack was reported to police, Warren, of Lancaster Street, Six Bells, Abertillery, was identified and arrested. He answered “no comment” to all questions asked in his subsequent interview.
At an earlier hearing it was heard that Warren said he could not remember what happened on the day due to alcohol amnesia. Jeffrey Jones, representing the defendant, read out a reference from Warren’s nan which cited the act as being “so much out of character”.
Mr Jones insisted Warren was ashamed of his actions and said he would not have behaved in the way he did were it not for the amount he had drunk, adding: “Alcohol robbed him of any sense of responsibility.”
Warren, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to rape at a previous hearing in November 2024. Judge Wayne Beard accepted the meeting between Warren and the victim had been by chance, with the judge telling the court that it was clear the defendant had been drinking heavily.
Judge Beard added that it was clear Warren had had “no concern” for the girl. He said: “This is a terrible offence which will remain life-long with the complainant”.
Warren was sentenced to four years and 10 weeks detention in a young offender institution He will serve up to half the sentence in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community.