Perry McCarthy’s brave victim told a court she remained ‘haunted’ by his abuse while there was applause in court as the paedophile was handed a lengthy jail term
A paedophile subjected a young girl to a “campaign of rape and sexual abuse” over a number of years which left her “helpless, terrified, and ashamed”. As a result of the abuse she suffered the victim has had suicidal ideation and has self-harmed.
Perry McCarthy, 65, of Penarth, carried out a series of rapes and sexual offences against the victim, which began when she was of primary school age. It started when the defendant asked the girl for a hug and made her wear a blindfold to conceal what he was doing.
A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court heard McCarthy made the victim touch his penis and masturbate him until he ejaculated. For the latest court reports sign up to our crime newsletter.
The victim would later tell police this was “the usual type of abuse” she suffered but the defendant’s behaviour escalated and he would orally rape the victim while she was blindfolded.
He went on to penetrate the victim with his fingers and groomed her by buying her electronic items as well as chocolate and games.
If she refused McCarthy’s sick demands he would call her “selfish”.
The defendant also sexually assaulted the victim by grabbing her breasts and massaged her thigh with an electric device as well as encouraging her to watch pornography.
The victim later told her teachers about the abuse and she gave an interview to the police about what she endured.
McCarthy, of Shakespeare Avenue, faced trial and was found guilty of rape of a girl, three counts of raping a girl under 13, three counts of causing/inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity, attempting to assault a girl under 13 by penetration, three counts of causing/inciting a girl under to engage in sexual activity involving penetration, assault by penetration, sexual assault, and voyeurism.
Reading her own victim personal statement to the court the victim said: “The emotional and sexual abuse continued for many years and throughout that time I felt helpless, terrified, and ashamed. The secrecy of it all made me feel alone and I became isolated as though I was trapped in a nightmare I couldn’t escape. I was too scared to tell anyone, convinced that no-one would believe me or that I would be blamed for what had happened…
“As a result of being called a liar and being constantly made to feel as if I was to blame for what was happening I now find it very difficult to accept advice and guidance…
“I now live with chronic anxiety, nightmares, and a constant feeling of unease. My sleep has been terribly affected as the fear instilled by being blindfolded by Perry leaves me exceptionally fearful of closing my eyes and experiencing the darkness. There are times that the demons that I fear in the dark, that take on the shape and persona of Perry, force me into leaving the house in the night to try and escape from them and even though I know that this is in itself an unsafe activity it still feels safer than reliving my abuse nightmare. This then impacts massively on my ability to function during the day – I’m not only physically too tired to be able to engage in regular daily activities but also emotionally too drained to rationalise my thoughts.
“I struggle to trust people and I often feel like I am on edge, waiting for something bad to happen. I have frequently resorted to self-harm in the hope that physical pain will negate the mental anguish I experience. This has resulted in numerous hospital admissions and times when I think it would be easier to not have to live with the hurt and pain.
“Relationships have been difficult for me to navigate as the trauma has made it hard to open up to others, even those I love and care about, and as soon as I feel that I am starting to trust [people] I withdraw and isolate myself as the ingrained fear of that trust being abused never goes away. I’ve found it challenging to form healthy connections… The abuse has taught me to be passive and not question others’ actions and I am only slowly learning how to recognise and avoid this.
“The abuse has affected my mental health, my self-esteem, and my sense of safety in the world. I constantly question my worth and whether I deserved any of this pain….
“I want to be heard. I want to be understood. I want to be believed. The impact of the abuse extends beyond what happened during those years – it is a constant presence in my life that I struggle with every day. I am slowly learning to live with the trauma but I am still haunted by it. I feel like I am living a life in which I am constantly on the outside looking in, never fully able to be myself.”
In mitigation Kevin Seal said his client had no previous convictions and there was no evidence of offences being committed against anybody else.
Sentencing, Judge Shomon Khan said: “The victim was left in the impossible situation of having to endure further abuse from you thinking no-one would believe her… Blindfolding was linked to the abuse which left emotional and physical scars. When she turns out the lights she fears she will see images of you…
“She describes losing her childhood and even now she feels she’s an outsider. She feels her voice was lost but the jury heard her and I heard her loud and clear.
“She was brave and did come forward. You thought you could get away with it because of her vulnerability… You abused and used her as your plaything.”
McCarthy was sentenced to a total of 21 years imprisonment with an extended licence period of one year. People in the public gallery clapped as the judge passed sentence
The defendant was also made subject to a restraining order and sex offender notification requirements for life and was made subject to a sexual harm prevention order for 15 years.
Following the hearing detective constable Joanna Cecerko from South Wales Police said: “I want to commend the victim for her courage in coming forward. Thanks to her report and support from her family justice has been served.
“It has been a traumatic time for everyone involved and I am hopeful the outcome at court brings the victim and her family some comfort which they deserve.”
For confidential support the Samaritans can be contacted for free around the clock 365 days a year on 116 123.