Barry,South Wales - 'Sexual predator' who threatened his victim to keep him silent deserves 22-year jail term, top judges rule

Colin Michael Wood was told he deserves every day of his 22 year jail term

• 19 MAY 2016
• BY STRAND NEWS SERVICE

Colin Michael Wood, 65, was jailed for 22 years for historic sexual offences

A “manipulative sexual predator” deserves every day of his “severe” 22-year-jail term, top judges have ruled.

Colin Michael Wood, 65, of Somerset Road, Barry , was put behind bars at Exeter Crown Court on May 29 last year.

He was convicted of eight indecent assaults, gross indecency and another serious sexual offence. His crimes dated back to the 1970’s and 80’s.

London’s Appeal Court heard how Wood threatened a boy to coerce him into “keeping silent” over the abuse.

The judge who jailed Wood said he had destroyed the victim’s “childhood, his youth and much of his life”.

But Wood’s lawyers argued that 22 years was too long for his crimes and ought to be cut.

Lord Justice Burnett pointed to the “extreme youth” of the victim, the “severe psychological harm” he had suffered and the “threats of violence”.

The judge, sitting with Mr Justice Hickinbottom and Mr Justice Soole, described Wood as a “controlling, threatening and manipulative sexual predator”.

“The sentence, whilst severe, cannot be stigmatised as being manifestly excessive,” he concluded.

The appeal was dismissed.
see-http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/sexual-predator-who-threatened-victim-11352460