A MAN from Newport has been jailed for eleven years after being convicted of raping a woman who was asleep and physically vulnerable.

Yogesh Parmar, aged 35, was sentenced at Swansea Crown Court on Monday (Feb 23) following a trial in which jurors heard harrowing details of the abuse suffered by the victim.

Sentencing, Her Honour Judge Catherine Richards said the complainant had been “particularly vulnerable” at the time of the attack because of her small physical stature and the fact she was asleep when the rape occurred.

The court heard Parmar placed heavy gym weights against the bedroom door to prevent the woman from leaving the room.

In her personal statement, the victim said that when she told Parmar his behaviour was harming her, he responded by telling her to “get used to it”.

It was also heard that he dismissed her distress by describing her as “hormonal” when she reacted to his pattern of abuse. The victim told the court she regarded Parmar as “a predator”.

In mitigation, defence counsel argued the complainant had “woken to him effectively having intercourse”.

Alongside the eleven-year custodial sentence for rape, Parmar was handed a 20-year restraining order. He also received a two-year concurrent sentence on a separate count of controlling and coercive behaviour.

Judge Richards told the defendant the offences represented a grave breach of trust and had caused lasting harm to the victim.

Parmar will serve his sentence in custody before being subject to restrictions upon release.

Trial date set for July following Crown Court appearance

A MERLINS BRIDGE man has denied six charges of sexually assaulting children following a hearing at Swansea Crown Court.

Dion Lewtas, aged 29, of St Marks Close, appeared before the court on Monday (Feb 23), where he pleaded not guilty to six offences of sexual assault of girls aged under thirteen.

The charges relate to alleged incidents in Milford Haven between August 2021 and August 2023.

The girls were aged between nine and eleven years old, the prosecution alleges.

Lewtas had previously appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on January 20, when the case was sent to Swansea Crown Court.

He was released on bail. A trial date has been set for July 17.

A MAN from Haverfordwest has been convicted of raping his sister when she was under the age of 16.

The offences took place between 31 July and 7 August 1988 at Castle Lake Car Park in the town, when the defendant was in his 20’s.

Following a trial at Swansea Crown Court, the man was found guilty on two counts: rape of a female under 16 and indecent assault on a girl under 16, both contrary to the Sexual Offences Act 1956.

The jury returned the verdicts after hearing evidence over several days, including the complainant’s account of the incident which happened nearly 38 years ago.

The case was reported to police in December 2023.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons to protect the identity of the complainant, will be sentenced at Swansea Crown Court on Monday, 23 March 2026.

This conviction highlights that reports of historic sexual offences continue to be thoroughly investigated and brought before the courts, no matter how much time has passed.

After the case the complainant said: “The day that I thought would never happen happened, something that I have carried with me for nearly 40 years has finally been heard.

“I seriously; can not explain how I feel right now, but a very heavy weight has finally been lifted.”

Anyone who has been affected by sexual abuse can contact the police on 101 or seek support through specialist services such as Rape Crisis or Victim Support.