Man Jailed for 12 Years After Repeatedly Raping Woman
A Newport man has been sentenced to 12 years for multiple rapes and assaults against a woman, leaving her in fear for her life.
Newport, Wales, Lewys Manley, Rape, Assault, Court, Victim
Newport: A 30-year-old guy named Lewys Manley has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for some truly awful crimes. He repeatedly raped and assaulted a woman, leaving her terrified for her life.
Manley, who lived in Newport, was pretty violent. There was one time he even strangled the victim, which made her scream for help. Thankfully, some people nearby heard her and called the police.
When the cops showed up, they arrested him after a thorough investigation by Gloucestershire Police. The court heard how he used a bottle to hit her and even pushed his thumbs into her eyes during one of the attacks.
At first, he denied everything, but on the second day of the trial, he admitted to a couple of assaults and some controlling behavior. A jury found him guilty of five counts of rape and intentional strangulation.
Manley was really manipulative, using various methods to humiliate the woman. One of the rapes happened when he refused to wear a condom, even though she asked him to. Another time, he violently assaulted her in a way that caused her serious injuries.
On December 2, 2024, he was sentenced to 12 years for each count of rape, plus additional time for the assaults and controlling behavior. All those sentences will run at the same time, so he won’t serve extra time for the assaults.
He has to spend at least eight years in prison before he can even think about getting out on license. Plus, he’s under an indefinite restraining order, which means he can’t go near the victim.
The judge made it clear that only another court order could lift that restraining order, given how serious the situation was. The victim was in court to see him sentenced, and she shared a powerful statement about her experience.
She described the moment he strangled her, saying it felt like she was going to die. She recalled how scared she was and how she managed to scream for help just in time. It’s heartbreaking to hear how much fear she still lives with.
Detective Constable Damian Brogan, who worked on the case, said Manley subjected the woman to horrific abuse. He praised her bravery for coming forward and testifying against him, even when he denied his actions.
Anita Hudson, a Senior Crown Prosecutor, also spoke about the victim’s strength throughout the whole process. She hopes the victim can now start to rebuild her life, knowing that her attacker is behind bars.
Manley’s lawyer tried to argue that his mental health and substance abuse issues played a role in his actions, but the judge wasn’t having it. He made it clear that those issues didn’t excuse what Manley did.