Former carpenter sexually and physically abused children

A man sexually abused two young girls then tried to blame the drink and drugs he was consuming, a court has heard.

David Prothero repeatedly sexually assaulted the children - including on one occasion molesting a girl when she was in her school party dress - and orally raped one of his victims. In total, Prothero subjected four different children to sexual abuse or violence.

Locking up the 39-year-old former carpenter, a judge at Swansea Crown Court described his behaviour as "inexcusable" and said what the defendant did would have "devastating" long-term impacts on the victims.

Andrew Kendall, prosecuting, told the court that the offending came to light in August last year after one of the victims made disclosures to her mother that the defendant had been sexually assaulting her and had orally raped her.

The court heard one of the sexual assaults saw Prothero touching the girl's breasts while she was wearing a party dress.

The police were contacted, and a subsequent investigation then identified further victims - a young teenage girl the defendant had repeatedly sexually abused, and a boy and a girl he had been physically violent towards.

David Prothero, of Tumble, Carmarthenshire, had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of oral rape of a female aged 13 years old, four counts of engaging in sexual activity with a female aged under 18, four counts of sexual assault on a female, ill-treatment of a child and assault by beating when he appeared in the dock for sentencing. He has one previous conviction for one offence of being drunk and disorderly from 2009.

James Hartson, for Prothero, said the defendant had no history of sexual or violent offending on his record. He said his client was "mortified, ashamed, and deeply embarrassed" by his actions and was "struggling to come to terms" with what he had done.

He said Prothero had worked as a carpenter before his addiction to drugs and alcohol developed, and that though he had sought to blame his use of drink and drugs for his offending, "that is not an explanation which washed with probation and which will not wash with this court - there can be no excuse".

Judge Huw Rees told the defendant his behaviour had been "inexcusable" and said what the defendant had done would have "devastating" long-term impacts on the victims and members of their family. 

With discounts for his guilty pleas, Prothero was sentenced to 10-and-a-half years in prison. He will serve two-thirds of the sentence in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community. The defendant will be a registered sex offender for life, and was made subject to indefinite sexual harm prevention orders to control his access to children. Prothero was also made subject to life-long restraining orders to prevent him from contacting his victims.

Speaking after the sentencing, Dyfed-Powys Police detective inspector Rebecca Thomas of Carmarthenshire’s rape investigation team described it as a "disturbing case" involving four young, innocent victims.

She said: "The bravery shown by the victims in this case must be recognised. Their courage to speak out against this abuser is ultimately what has put David Prothero in prison today. These children are a credit to themselves and to their family.

"If anyone, no matter how old or young, finds themselves suffering silently, I want to encourage you to come forward and speak with us. We have a dedicated team of investigators, specially trained in crimes of this nature, who will support you every step of the way We are compassionate, and we are capable. We will do everything we can to secure justice, as we have seen today.

"I won’t forget the moment one victim said 'he can’t control me anymore' when Prothero entered his guilty pleas.

"This is as much about freedom as it is about justice. I hope the victims in this case can take heart knowing that Prothero is in prison, as they begin to move forward with their lives."