Victim impact statements read to Royal Court

Saturday 22nd August 2009, 2:58PM BST.

The Royal Court building

The effect on two victims of a man jailed for 15 years for five rapes was spelt out to the Royal Court yesterday.

Crown Advocate Stephen Baker read out victim impact statements from two women whose lives had been scarred by repeated abuse from Claude Donnelly.

As a result of two Assize trials earlier this year, Donnelly (69) was found guilty of 13 indecent assaults, five rapes and one of procuring an act of gross indecency, some of the offences dating back 40 years.

The 15-year sentence was imposed by the court despite Defence Advocate Mike Preston’s claim that his client would probably die in prison and his plea for mercy.

Crown Advocate Baker said that he was pleased that justice had been done, not least for the victims who had come forward and gone through a terribly traumatic experience.

• Full report in Saturday’s Jersey Evening Post.

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