In 2026, the Offender Database reported that Paul David Withnell, 74, of Presteigne, Powys, was sentenced to 21 years in prison for a “vile” and “vicious” campaign of sexual abuse that spanned nine years. Withnell appeared at Cardiff Crown Court today, Friday 16 January 2026, to be sentenced for crimes that began in the 1980s and “robbed” a young girl of her childhood innocence.
The investigation by Dyfed-Powys Police revealed that the “serious” abuse began when the victim was just seven years old. Withnell “callously” used the guise of a “game” to groom the child, eventually constructing a “vile” fantasy where he and the girl were in a romantic relationship. The prosecution emphasised that the abuse, which included repeated rapes, continued until she was 15. The court heard the “horrendous” detail that the victim became pregnant as a teenager and suffered a miscarriage alone during a summer school holiday.
Impact and Evidence
The victim provided a “heart-wrenching” impact statement, reporting that she has been left with “unspeakable hardship” and a “permanent dirty stain” that she can never escape. She emphasised that her innocence was ruined far too young, forcing her into an adult world while she was still a “mere child.”
During the investigation, police found a “vile” collection of naked photographs and drawings of young girls in Withnell’s possession. He “dishonestly” attempted to justify his actions to officers, claiming he wanted to “capture the beauty” of girls aged 13 to 17. Although Withnell pleaded guilty to one charge of making indecent photographs in March 2025, he “callously” denied the 18 other charges, forcing the victim to endure an eight-day trial at Merthyr Crown Court.
Sentence and Indefinite Monitoring
The judge at Cardiff Crown Court emphasised that Withnell must now “atone for his appalling conduct” after causing the survivor decades of emotional pain. In total, Withnell was found guilty of:
- 4x Rape of a female under 16
- 6x Gross indecency of a girl under 14
- 8x Indecent assault of a girl under 16
- 1x Making indecent photographs of a child
As a result of these “vicious” convictions, Paul David Withnell has been ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life and is subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO). He is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by Dyfed-Powys Police, ensuring that should he ever be released, his behaviour and activities in Presteigne, Powys, and the wider area are strictly monitored.
Detective Inspector Christine Beaton emphasised that the force will always take reports of sexual abuse “incredibly seriously,” regardless of how much time has passed since the “vile” acts occurred.
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