Rapist got off lightly, say Dinas residents (From Penarth Times)

Rapist got off lightly, say Dinas residents

LOCAL residents have welcomed an eight-year sentence for a man who raped a Dinas Powys woman in her own bed.

But some say Aaron Gaughan, aged 21, should have got longer for the attack which prosecutors say has left the woman feeling "degraded".

It follows a Cardiff Crown Court trial last Tuesday at which Gaughan, who has a string of 93 offences, admitted rape and burglary at a house in Dinas Powys on August 14.

The court heard the victim had been faced with Gaughan in her bedroom after taking a bath. Her family had just left for work.

Judge Peter Jacobs said Gaughan's offence was "terrifying".

He added: "This lady was happily married to her husband and she was petrified."

He ordered Gaughan to register as a sex offender for life. This week Dinas Powys reacted to the news.

Nigel Cooper, landlord of The Swan for four months, said: "The general feeling from what I've heard is that he didn't get long enough.

"People are disgusted that this happened in their area and quite a few of them knew the victim so it hit home that it could happen on their own doorstep."

John Walker, chairman of Neighbourhood Watch in Dinas Powys and the Vale of Glamorgan, said the offence has caused people to look into security.

He said: "There hasn't been a great deal of unnecessary worry among local inhabitants, no raised fears - a one off incident, though possibly general precautionary measures against intruders might have been looked at."

Mr Walker added: "I think the basic reaction now is satisfaction with the prompt arrest of Aaron Gaughan and I suppose reasonable satisfaction for the sentence.

"The sentence appears to be relatively correct though with the number of convictions it could be argued he got off reasonably lightly."