Son of Labour politician Mark Drakeford jailed for rape

A man has been jailed for more than eight years for carrying out a "series of cruel and degrading acts" including the rape of a woman.

Jonathan Drakeford is the son of Mark Drakeford the assembly member for Cardiff West and currently favourite to be the next Welsh Labour leader.

The court heard the 31-year-old was having an argument with the woman when he forced her onto a bed and hit her with a paddle causing bruising, before raping her.

Wendy Brady of the CPS said: “Jonathan Drakeford took advantage of this woman’s vulnerabilities to indulge his sexual fantasies.

“He carried out a series of cruel and degrading acts knowing she did not consent.

“The CPS would like acknowledge the strength of the victim in giving her evidence to the jury. These convictions are a direct result of her courage to do so.”

Before his trial Drakeford also pleaded guilty to attempting to arrange or facilitate the commission of a child sex offence, after discussing having sex with a Facebook user who purported to be a 15-year-old girl.

Ms Wilks said it was likely the profile actually belonged to an online vigilante who reported Drakeford to the police.

Nigel Fryer, defending, said Drakeford suffered from autistic spectrum disorder, and had an "extremely low" IQ of 68 and the reading age of a 10-year-old.

Mr Fryer said: "The fact he will now be incarcerated is going to have an additional impact on him."

Judge Jonathan Furness QC told Drakeford his victim suffered "degradation and humiliation" during the attack in November 2016.

Drakeford, of Fairwater, Cardiff, was jailed for a total of eight years and eight months.

Mark Drakeford, who has been a Labour member of the Welsh Assembly since 2011, said his family had been through a "distressing period" and its thoughts "are with all those caught up in it, especially the victim".

In a statement after his son was convicted Mark Drakeford said: "This has been a distressing period for our family.

"Our thoughts are with all those caught up in it, especially the victim.

"There will be nothing further to add to this statement on this personal and private matter."

Officer in the case Detective Constable Alex Jenkins, from South Wales Police, said: “Sexual assault is one of the most traumatic and devastating experiences a person can suffer and we at South Wales Police are committed to providing a first class service to victims.

“South Wales Police urges anyone who has been the victim of any kind of sexual abuse or assault to come forward, safe in the knowledge that they will be treated with respect and dignity by officers.”