Rapist asks to stay locked up

Rapist asks to stay locked up

Atkinson admitted serious sexual offences at Cardiff Crown Court

A teenager jailed for life for sex attacks on children has asked to stay locked up until he is no longer a danger to them.

Paul Atkinson, 18, admitted two charges of rape involving young children and five counts of indecency at Cardiff Crown Court.

The court heard Atkinson assaulted a six-year-old child twice in the space of a few months.

He has made it abundantly clear that he does not wish to leave custody so long as he has these urges

Defence solicitor Peter Harding-Roberts

He also exposed himself to a group of four children aged between six and 11 who were playing together.

His defence solicitor, Peter Harding-Roberts, told the court that Atkinson was "terrified" by his feelings towards children and wanted to be "protected against his own desires".

Mr Harding-Roberts added: "He (Atkinson) has made it abundantly clear to me that he is disgusted by his behaviour.

"He is terrified by his behaviour, not so much by what he has done, but for what he might do.

'Protected'

"He has made it abundantly clear that he does not wish to leave custody so long as he has these urges.

"He wants to be protected against his own desires."

Atkinson, from the Pontcanna area of Cardiff, had himself been abused as a young child.

The court heard he developed sexual urges towards children when he reached adolescence.

Admission

Mr Harding-Roberts said: "One can only hope that when the victims are as young as this the scars do not go as deep as they might with older children."

Prosecutor Caroline Rees said: "Atkinson admitted the offences to police, telling them he was suffering from sexual frustration. He said he had feelings towards all children - both boys and girls."

Jailing Atkinson for life, Judge John Griffith Williams said the teenager had no understanding of the effect of his behaviour on his victims.

"You have a high risk of re-offending," the judge told Atkinson.

"You fantasise about children and have strong aggressive thoughts of wishing to sexually assault women.

"Your behaviour appears to be predatory and you do not discriminate against either males or females."

Atkinson was also ordered to register as a sex offender for life.