A Swansea University student has been sentenced following a string of disturbing night-time break-ins, where he trespassed into women’s bedrooms as they slept. The court heard that Evan Powell entered several homes in the Brynmill area of Swansea, displaying “extremely sinister” behaviour, including committing a sexual act while watching one of his sleeping victims.
The offences occurred following a night out on 30 October 2024, when Powell, then 21 and dressed in a “Men in Black”-style costume, attended a house party before heading to city centre bars. In the early hours, he returned to Brynmill and unlawfully entered three homes—and attempted to break into a fourth—under the cover of darkness.
During these incidents, his actions escalated in severity. In one home, Powell first entered a child’s bedroom, startling the young occupant as he rummaged through drawers. He then proceeded into the mother’s room, waking her as he stood next to the bed observing her. Powell fled after being challenged. At another property nearby, he entered a woman’s bedroom, exposed himself, and began to masturbate while watching her sleep. When the victim awoke and confronted him, a struggle ensued in the kitchen, during which she punched Powell before he managed to escape.
In a third case, a resident was awakened by the sound of her door opening, prompting Powell to flee before any further confrontation occurred. Police enquiries later established that he had unsuccessfully attempted to access a fourth property that night.
Powell was apprehended after the incidents were reported and he was identified through police investigations. Despite insisting in court that he was searching for his lost mobile phone from earlier in the evening, and denying there was any sexual intent, a jury found him guilty of trespass with intent to commit a sexual offence. He was also found guilty of three counts of trespass with intent and one count of attempted trespass with intent.
The court heard details of a previous sexual assault committed by Powell in October 2023. On that occasion, he followed a woman in Brynmill before touching her inappropriately. This earlier incident was not prosecuted through the courts and instead was handled by a community resolution, where Powell admitted his guilt and wrote a letter of apology. The judge and prosecution expressed regret and concern that the matter had not been dealt with more robustly, noting procedural failings in the initial police handling of the case.
During sentencing, Judge Paul Thomas KC labelled Powell’s actions as premeditated and sexually motivated. He pointed out that Powell displayed no insight into his behaviour and refused to acknowledge his problem, stating this lack of recognition increased the risk of future offending. The judge imposed a nine-year extended sentence, consisting of five years in custody followed by a four-year period on licence. Powell will be eligible for parole after serving two-thirds of the custodial sentence and is required to register as a sex offender for life.
The defence highlighted Powell’s youth and lack of previous convictions, noting that he had come from a supportive family and had been helping other inmates with literacy during his time on remand. However, these factors did not mitigate the seriousness of the offences in the eyes of the court.
Senior crown prosecutor Carolina Mayorga-Williams, from the Crown Prosecution Service’s rape and serious sexual offences team, emphasised the profound impact such crimes have on victims, describing the experience as deeply violating and frightening. She reiterated the commitment of authorities to thoroughly investigate and prosecute incidents of this nature.
The case has prompted renewed discussion around the importance of robust responses to sexual offences and the need for victims to feel safe in their own homes.
Support for those affected by sexual abuse is available through organisations such as Lifecentre, The National Association for People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC), One in Four, Safeline, The Survivors Trust, and Rape Crisis England & Wales. These services provide helplines, counselling, and advocacy for survivors and their families.
As the community comes to terms with these worrying incidents, the case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges in ensuring safety and justice for victims of sexual offences.