April 2009
Pontypool man jailed for double rape
A PONTYPOOL man was jailed for 10 years after raping two girls, both in their late teens, at a party while they were sleeping.
Newport Crown Court heard yesterday how Robert Bates, 47, of Long Owl Barn, Coed-y-Paen, raped the teenagers when they were asleep after a party last year.
A jury had found Bates guilty of both charges of rape during the trial at Cardiff Crown Court.
Tracey Lloyd-Nesling, defending, said Bates’ actions were fortuitous rather than planned and is at low risk of re-convicting.
She said the girls suffered no physical injuries.
Judge Michael Burr told the court yesterday how the one girl was asleep in bed when Bates entered the bed and raped her.
He said Bates committed two “serious” offences in a very short space of time as Bates then left the room and went back upstairs where the other girl was also raped.
Judge Burr said: “You took advantage of that situation. You should never have behaved as you did.”
He said: “It’s impossible at this stage to know precisely what effects this sort of behaviour will have on your victims.”
Bates will serve five of the 10 years in prison and must sign the sex offenders register.
He was also disqualified from ever working with children for an indefinite period.
