A CHILD rapist from Powys is today beginning a 10-year prison sentence.

William Joseph Contestabile, 37, had denied a total of five charges against him, but was convicted at his trial just before Christmas of three counts of rape and two of sexual assault.

At his sentencing hearing at Caernarfon Crown Court on Tuesday, February 14, Judge Nicola Saffman jailed Contestabile, whose last known address was near Newtown, for a total of 10 years.

Contestabile has also been permanently barred from having unsupervised contact with any child under 16.

Representing Contestabile, Devi Matthews said: “These are serious offences and there is to be a significant sentence.

“Mr Contestabile’s trial heard about him and his background. Very rarely is an individual wholly bad or wholly good. There are other aspects to him. Individuals have put pen to paper and provide references for him.

“He is a low risk of reoffending according to the pre-sentence report. All other aspects of his life will stop; his employment and his ability to support those around him.

County Times:

“When he comes out in some years to come he will address his lifestyle and changes that must be made. He has reflected and accepts there is a need for intervention. There is a movement in the right direction.

“The emergency services were called shortly after Christmas, there was a fear he’d taken an overdose, relating to his deteriorating mental health. But it wasn’t a dangerous overdose and it is not suggested he was trying to do so. He has not been before the court for anything previously.”

Judge Saffman told Contestabile: “The shortest possible sentence I can pass is 10 years.”

She passed identical sentences for the other two counts of rape, as well as four years for each sexual assault. All these are to be served concurrently – meaning Contestabile will serve a total of 10 years in jail.

The defendant was also made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order and a notification requirement, both indefinitely. This means that for the rest of his life he will have to make police aware of any change of address or employment.