A CARMARTHENSHIRE man has been jailed for 22 years for the repeated rape and sexual abuse of a child over a number of years.

Damien Jones, 40, was sentenced at Swansea Crown Court on Monday, July 6, after being convicted following a trial earlier this year.

Jones was found guilty by a jury on May 6 of 16 sexual offences against one victim, who was a child at the time.

The offences took place between 2013 and 2021.

He was convicted of:

• Four counts of rape of a girl under 13
• Two counts of sexual touching of a girl under 13
• Three counts of sexual assault by penetration of a girl under 13
• Four counts of inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity without penetration
• Three counts of inciting a girl aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity with penetration

In addition to the 22-year prison sentence, Jones was made subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and an indefinite restraining order in respect of the victim.

Victim praised for “incredible courage”

Detective Constable Leanne Morris, of South Powys CID, praised the bravery of the victim in coming forward and giving evidence during the trial.

DC Morris said: “I would like to take this opportunity to first and foremost commend the bravery shown by the victim in this case.

“They have shown incredible courage to provide their account to us, as well as appearing in court to give evidence during this trial.

“We are incredibly grateful for their strength and fortitude in ensuring that Jones has been brought before the courts and ultimately sentenced.”

She added: “Jones is clearly an incredibly dangerous individual, and today’s sentence reflects the nature of his depraved crimes.

“Thankfully, he is now no longer a danger to the public.

“The investigation team in this case have shown excellent professionalism and hard work in obtaining this result.”

Dyfed-Powys Police said anyone affected by rape or sexual offences can access support and advice through the force website, including information on how to report offences.

Victims of sexual offences are granted automatic lifetime anonymity under the law.

A TEACHER allegedly stabbed in the head at Milford Haven Comprehensive School told a jury she feared she was dying after a knife attack which prosecutors say was a deliberate attempt to kill her.

Vicki Williams gave evidence on the second day of the trial of a 15-year-old defendant accused of attempting to murder her at the school on February 5, 2026.

The teenager, who cannot be identified because of his age, denies attempted murder, inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent, and unlawful wounding. He has admitted possessing a bladed article on school premises.

Giving evidence at Swansea Crown Court, Mrs Williams described the terrifying moments she says unfolded after the end of the school day.

The jury heard that Mrs Williams had taught the defendant during a history lesson earlier that morning and had experienced no problems with him.

Asked about their relationship, she said that from her perspective they had always got on well.

Mrs Williams told jurors that after lessons ended at around 3.10pm, the defendant approached her while she was working in a classroom.

She said he stood beside her, talking to her while searching through his school bag.

Moments later, she told the court, she was attacked.

“He hits me in the head first,” Mrs Williams said.

“The force of it hits me back into my chair.”

She told jurors she did not initially realise she had been stabbed.

“When he pulls the knife back from my head, that’s when I see the knife,” she said.

Mrs Williams said she then tried to grab the weapon to stop herself being stabbed again, suffering injuries to her hands in the process.

The prosecution says she sustained a penetrating stab wound to the head, along with defensive injuries to her hands and other minor wounds.

During cross-examination, defence barrister Matthew Roberts KC suggested the injury to Mrs Williams’ scalp was caused accidentally during a struggle over the knife.

Mrs Williams rejected that account.

“That’s not what happened,” she told the court.

Mr Roberts also suggested the defendant had approached her to discuss schoolwork before producing the knife.

Again, Mrs Williams disputed the suggestion.

Jurors were played a recording of Mrs Williams’ police interview, in which she described the expression on the defendant’s face during the incident.

“What gets me is how cool and collected he was coming in,” she said.

“His eyes were psychotic, his eyes were full of just pure rage.

“He stabs me in the head. He’s trying to kill me.”

Asked about the defendant’s appearance during the attack, Mrs Williams later told the jury: “Those eyes are not something I’m going to forget quickly.

“It was pure hatred.”

The court heard that after the defendant fled, Mrs Williams was left holding the knife.

When asked why she had not locked herself inside the classroom, she told the jury she had been focused on seeking urgent medical assistance.

“I know I’ve been stabbed in the head. I’m fearful that I’m dying,” she said.

The jury also heard evidence from Catherine Wilcox, a teacher of 20 years and the school’s safeguarding lead.

Mrs Wilcox described seeing Mrs Williams shortly after the incident.

She told the court that Mrs Williams was clutching the back of her head and said: “He got me in the head.”

Mrs Wilcox described her colleague’s condition as shocking.

“She looked horrific. Her skin was the colour of a dead body,” she said.

“God, she looked awful. Vicky always presents herself so well but she looked horrific.”

Jurors were also shown CCTV footage from the school as part of evidence presented by Detective Constable Henry Foster.

The trial before Judge Paul Thomas KC continues.

Milford Haven teacher gives evidence as trial of 15-year-old continues at Swansea Crown Court

A TEACHER allegedly stabbed at Milford Haven Comprehensive School has told a jury there were no problems between her and the accused pupil in the hours before the attack.

Vicki Williams, giving evidence at Swansea Crown Court on Tuesday, said she had taught the 15-year-old defendant during a history lesson earlier on February 5, 2026, and had no concerns about his behaviour.

The teenager, who cannot be identified because of his age, denies attempted murder, inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent and unlawful wounding. He has admitted possessing a bladed article.

Mrs Williams told the court she taught the defendant between 9.25am and 10.30am on the day of the incident.

Asked about her relationship with the pupil, she said there had been no issues during the lesson and that, from her perspective, they had always got on well.

The court heard that after the school day ended at around 3.10pm, the defendant approached Mrs Williams while she was working in a classroom.

Mrs Williams told jurors that he stood beside her and engaged her in conversation while searching through his school bag.

She said she believed he was looking for something and continued talking to him as he rifled through the bag.

The jury heard that moments later she saw him remove an object before she was knocked backwards into a chair.

Looking up, she said she saw a knife in his hand.

Mrs Williams told the court she suffered a stab wound to the head during the incident.

She said she later injured her hand while attempting to grab the knife in an effort to stop herself being stabbed again.

The teacher received treatment in hospital following the incident.

The court also heard that an unrelated incident had occurred earlier in the day when a lower pane of glass in a classroom door was broken while Mrs Williams was teaching another class.

The prosecution alleges the defendant carried out a planned attack on the teacher. The defence denies the allegations.

The trial before Judge Paul Thomas KC is expected to continue for several weeks.

The Pembrokeshire Herald will continue to report from Swansea Crown Court as further evidence is heard.