A 'SEXUAL predator' who preyed on women and young girls in Gwent for 24 years was jailed for life yesterday.

Former taxi driver Christopher Harrhy, aged 44, from Bridge Street, Griffithstown, Pontypool, was last month found guilty of 21 charges including five of rape, six of indecent assault, and one of attempted murder.

Other charges included causing actual bodily harm, attempting to cause actual bodily harm with intent, child cruelty, blackmail, making threats to kill and wounding.

At Cardiff crown court yesterday Judge John Griffith Williams said that Harrhy should not be considered for parole until he has served a minimum of ten years imprisonment.

As he was led to the cells many of his victims and their families applauded in the public gallery.

Prosecutor Huw Evans said: "Harrhy was a manipulative and domineering man given to outbursts of extreme violence.

"He also had a taste for young, pubescent girls and would do or say whatever he needed to satisfy his sexual urges."

Judge Williams told Harrhy: "Your sexual appetite was predatory when directed at young girls. One rape of a virgin was particularly callous."

He said Harrhy had set out at one time to groom two girls for sexual abuse and with one girl he carried out a "campaign of rape." One girl, he said was blackmailed.

"The lives of all these victims have been scarred because they can't forget their experiences at your hands."

The judge added: "You are a serious and continuing danger to the safety of the public.

"I have no doubts you have no understanding of the distress that the victims suffered."

Mr Evans, prosecuting, said there were eight victims in total.

The abuse came to light in February last year when a 14- year-old girl recorded a conversation on her mobile phone in which she received abuse and threats from the defendant.

Mr Evans said that on one occasion Harrhy put a knife to a man's chest and threatened to kill him.

One victim was kicked, slapped and punched and threatened with a knife and lost many teeth. One was strangled to unconsciousness when Harrhy attempted to murder her.

The court heard Harrhy had a previous conviction for manslaughter.

Judge Williams said: "The offences establish that you are self-centred, controlling, and a short tempered individual who wants his own way."

Defence counsel Alun Jenkins, QC, said it was not a case for long-winded words "and there is very little to put before the court regarding the facts.

"Recognise that he is 44 and when he comes out he could well be an old man."

Harrhy was ordered to register as a sex offender for life and banned from working with children. He was also made subject to a sexual offences prevention order which bans him from speaking to or communicating with girls under 17 or anyone in the case and girls under 17 cannot enter his home.

* Despite repeated requests by the South Wales Argus for a photograph of Harrhy, Gwent Police refused to issue the picture on the advice of the force solicitor.