AN 88-year-old man, Terrence Hulme, who was serving an 18-year sentence for a series of rapes and sexual assaults on children, died in a hospital on 20th September while receiving end of life care.
Hulme, from Arael View, Abertillery, was convicted in October 2023 for offences spanning from the 1950s to the 1970s. Cardiff Crown Court heard that he began sexually abusing his main victim when she was just two years old, continuing until she reached her teens. It was only decades later that she bravely came forward, leading to the discovery of a second victim who had also suffered in silence for many years.
Despite his denial of all charges, forcing his victims to testify in court, Hulme was found guilty of 10 counts of rape and three counts of indecent assault.
During sentencing, Judge Daniel Williams described Hulme’s actions as a “campaign of rape” and noted his routine use of violence to intimidate his victims into silence. Hulme was sentenced to 18 years in prison, with up to two-thirds to be served in custody, and was placed on the sex offenders register for life.
The victims gave harrowing impact statements in court. One described Hulme as a “monster” and spoke of spending decades “suppressing the horrors” of her early life. The second victim explained that fear of not being believed had kept her silent for so long. Judge Williams commended their courage in coming forward.
Hulme’s lawyer argued that his age and health conditions would make imprisonment particularly difficult. Despite this, the severity of his crimes left little room for leniency.
