Cafe owner jailed for sexually abusing boy, 14

Andrew Mackenzie has been sentenced to eight years in prison for sexually abusing a 14-year-old boy

A charity cafe owner who sexually assaulted a teenager has been sentenced to eight years in prison.

Andrew Mackenzie, 55, from Cardiff, was convicted of four counts of sexual activity with a 14-year-old boy on two separate occasions in May 2021.

A personal victim statement read to Cardiff Crown Court on behalf of the boy said he had been diagnosed with childhood post-traumatic stress disorder following the attacks.

He said he was also suffering from night terrors, that his relationship with his family had suffered, and he had been using cannabis.

The boy told the court even though he knew what happened was illegal, he had not realised how bad it was, but now had a full understanding.

The assaults took place in a cabin at the rear of charity coffee shop Coffee and Cakes, run by Mackenzie.

The profits from the shop supported Poor and Hungry, a community interest company set up by Mackenzie to help young people in need and to provide meals for vulnerable people.

He set up the charity after claiming to have "turned over a new leaf" and found God after a lifetime of crime, including long prison terms for fraud and drugs supply. 

Mackenzie regularly took men he paid to have sex with him to the back of the shop.

It was through one of the "male prostitutes" that he came into contact with the boy.

Judge Shoman Khan told him he showed a lack of respect towards those he had sex with, saying: "All you cared about was yourself".

Mr Khan said he was sure Mackenzie knew the boy was only 14 at the time of the attacks.

"I am sure that you were grooming him," the judge said.

Mackenzie still insisted he was innocent, but mouthed "sorry" to the boy's family as he was being escorted from court following sentencing.

He was sentenced to eight years, and will serve half of that period in jail before being released on licence.

He will also be subject to a sexual harm prevention order for the rest of his life and will be prohibited from communicating electronically with anyone under the age of 18.