A “warped” sex attacker from Hengoed has been jailed after his brave victim trapped him by recording an assault on her mobile phone.
Gareth Harding, 33, was jailed for more than six years at Newport Crown Court after being brought to justice by the tape given to police by his 18-year-old victim.
The young woman suffered in silence after a series of sex attacks by Harding over five months.
She feared she would not be believed – until she gave the phone recording of his sex attack to her father who called in police.
Her mobile phone recordings were played out in court after Harding pleaded guilty to all charges brought against him.
She is heard refusing his sex advance – but Harding replied: “What if I give you a tenner?”
He is heard chuckling as she begins to sob before there is a sound of a struggle and she screams.
She is heard telling Harding to “stop” and “I can’t”.
Harding replies: “Yes you can. It’s easy.”
The teenager eventually handed the recordings to her father who confronted Harding at his home.
Harding, of Hawthorne Avenue, pestered the teenager for sex leaving her “scared and distressed”.
But when he tried to assault her again she recorded the audio on her phone while pretending to be on Facebook.
The police were called but Harding said the sound recording was a “joke”.
Michael Jones, prosecuting, said Harding was responsible for a series of “degrading acts” which the girl “felt she had no escape” from.
Andrew Jones, defending Harding, said: “It’s impossible to not be affected by these recordings. At least the victim hasn’t had to come in and relieve them.
“The shame he feels is genuine. He knows he is fully responsible for what happened.”
Harding was sentenced to six years and eight months after pleading guilty to attempted rape, assault by penetration, two counts of sexual assault and inappropriate touching.
Judge Daniel Williams: “The recordings are harrowing and prove how seemingly persistent you were. You were aggressive and they simply demonstrate how warped you are.”