Predator, 35, pleads guilty to causing sexual harm against minors

In a sentencing hearing on Friday, March 18th, Paul Newell, 35, pleaded guilty to multiple counts of sexual assault against two minors under the age of 16.

Newell has a disturbing history of child sexual abuse. In a previous case, he was convicted of 15 sexual assault charges, including the repeated rape of an 8-year-old boy whom he assaulted 9 times. For those crimes, Newell was sentenced to 7 years in prison.

Upon his release, Newell was subject to a sexual harm prevention order prohibiting him from having any contact with minors under 16. However, he violated this order by kissing and inappropriately touching children he knew through family and friends. The parents of the victims were unaware of Newell's previous convictions and expressed devastation upon learning the truth. According to Newell, only the children's grandfather knew about his past offences.

"I would never have let him near children if I had known," the heartbroken father of the victims stated.

In his defence, Newell claimed his actions toward the children were not sexually motivated, but rather an attempt to be "affectionate" as a family friend. He further argued that his childhood trauma and experiences in prison, where he was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, contributed to his crimes. Newell asserted that the contact with the children was part of his efforts to rebuild his life.

As an initial response, the court ordered Newell to be taken into immediate custody pending further proceedings.

Prosecutors are expected to provide additional evidence and witness testimony in the ongoing case against the convicted sex offender.