A Port Talbot man who raped a teenager after she got “very, very drunk” on vodka he had handed out has been jailed for eight years, almost four years after the attack.
Damien Samuel, 44, of Wyndham Street, denied the rape and took the case to trial, South Wales Police said. A jury at Swansea Crown Court found him guilty in September.
The judge who sentenced him called the time it took to bring the case to court “disgraceful” and “absolutely scandalous”, it was reported.
December 2022 attack, first court appearance in February 2025, trial this September
The rape happened in Port Talbot in December 2022 after Samuel had given alcohol to a group of people including the victim, who was a teenager at the time, the court heard. She became “very, very drunk” on the vodka.
Samuel later found her and raped her while she was “crying and distressed”, the court was told. Afterwards he told her he hoped she would not cause him “a problem”.
His first appearance before magistrates was not until February 2025, the court heard. He pleaded not guilty to one count of rape the following month, the force said.
Recorder Greg Bull KC told him he had targeted an obviously vulnerable young woman and “abused her in a most disgraceful way”. It must have been plain to him that she was not consenting, the recorder said, and the remark about not causing a problem was a veiled threat.
‘No place I feel free from the trauma’: the victim’s statement to the court
Reading her own statement to the court, the woman said there was “no place I feel free from the trauma” of what happened, and that his denial and the trial had added to it.
She is afraid to sleep because of nightmares and afraid to leave the house alone, she said, and keeps her head down when she does.
Robin Rouch, defending, said Samuel understood there was little to be said on his behalf given the verdict, and asked the court to consider his previous clean record and personal references.
Eight years, a 20-year restraining order and the sex offenders register for life
Samuel must serve two-thirds of the eight years in custody before release on licence. He was given a restraining order banning him from contacting the victim for 20 years.
He will be on the sex offenders register for the rest of his life.
Detective Constable Ryan Blackburn said: “Damien Samuel took advantage of his victim before asking her to keep quiet about what he had done, clear proof that he knew that his actions were illegal.”
He added: “The victim has shown tremendous bravery in quickly coming forward and reporting what Damien Samuel did to police. A thorough investigation has then taken place, which has resulted in a guilty verdict.”
The detective said the case “should be an encouraging example that reporting what happened to police will result in any perpetrator being brought to justice”.
The force said it never underestimated how difficult it was for survivors of sexual abuse to speak out, but hoped cases like this one showed victims would be listened to, treated with dignity and respect, and supported through the court process.
Anyone who has been sexually abused and is not yet ready to report to police can find information and support services on the South Wales Police website. “Please don’t suffer in silence,” the force said.
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