CARL MORGAN'S HORRIFIC CRIME IN CWMBRAN: DECADE OF ABUSE EXPOSED

In a harrowing case that has shocked the community of Cwmbran, a man named Carl Morgan has been convicted of subjecting his own daughter to a decade of sexual abuse. The disturbing details emerged during a court trial that culminated in Morgan receiving a 20-year prison sentence, with a minimum of ten years to be served behind bars. The case has brought to light the profound impact of long-term abuse and the importance of speaking out against such crimes.

According to court records and victim testimony, Carl Morgan, 45, formerly residing in Brynglas, Hollybush, Cwmbran, began abusing his daughter, Ceri-Ann Morgan, from the tender age of four. The young girl endured repeated sexual assaults, which occurred approximately four times each week throughout her childhood. She bravely chose to share her story publicly, having waived her right to anonymity, in an effort to inspire other victims to come forward and seek help.

In her own words, Ceri-Ann recounted her early experiences, revealing that she was unaware of the wrongfulness of her father's actions at the time. She explained, “I didn’t know what was happening to me. I thought it was normal for a dad to do things like that with their daughters.” She described how her father would tell her they were playing a game, and she would go along with it, not understanding the gravity of the situation. Her ordeal began when she was just four years old, and by the age of seven, she experienced her first rape, which she vividly recalls. “He told me to go upstairs to his bedroom. I wanted it all to stop. I did tell him to stop, I said I didn’t want to play any more but he just wouldn’t,” she said.

As she grew older, her father’s behavior towards her shifted. He became more aggressive, often angry and shouting, and displayed jealousy towards her interactions with others. These changes created a tense and fearful environment for her. At age 15, Ceri-Ann started socializing more with friends in an attempt to escape her father’s oppressive presence. This change in her social life resulted in fewer incidents of abuse, and the abuse eventually ceased altogether in 2010 when she met a boyfriend. However, her father’s disapproval of her relationship, driven by his fears that she might disclose her past, kept her under his influence.

In 2012, driven by concern that her father might be abusing others, Ceri-Ann decided to report her experiences to the police. She explained, “I thought this was my chance to come out with it because if he was home I wouldn’t have ever been able to. He would go mad, I was scared of his reaction.” Following her disclosure, she moved out of her family home and stayed in various hostels, navigating a difficult period of her life while awaiting justice. The case finally went to trial in April of this year, where she provided her evidence via video link to avoid facing her father directly in court. Despite the emotional toll, she described the process as “nerve-wracking,” knowing her abuser was watching her.

Ultimately, justice was served when Carl Morgan was convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison. Judge David Wynn Morgan described him as a “cold-blooded paedophile” and imposed a lifelong ban on him working with children. The sentence reflects the severity of his crimes, which included six counts of sexual assault, four counts of indecent assault, one count of engaging a child in sexual activity, and one count of rape, all committed against his own daughter between 1999 and 2010.

Despite his conviction, Ceri-Ann expressed mixed feelings about the outcome. She said, “It made me feel glad that I’ve got justice, but it still didn’t really feel good. I only thought he would get five or six years, so this was like somebody finally saying yes, that is a terrible thing that’s happened to you.” She hopes her story will serve as a warning and encouragement for other victims to seek help. “I feel that I may have protected other people that could have been abused by him in the future. I don’t want anyone else to go through what I went through,” she added.

She also shared her ongoing struggles, noting that she sometimes still sees her father walking around in the street. Nevertheless, she is determined to move forward. “It’s going to take a while but I want to get on with my life,” she said. She emphasized the importance of support services, urging others to reach out to organizations like the police, Victim Support, and Women’s Aid, which operate across Gwent, including in Cwmbran. “You don’t have to be embarrassed to talk about what has happened. They are understanding, you don’t have to be scared,” she advised.

Following the court case, Ceri-Ann, who lost her retail job due to the stress, is now seeking counseling and is eager to return to work. Her primary goal is to never see her father again. “I said everything I wanted to say to him in my personal statement in court. I never want to see him again,” she declared. Her message to others is one of strength and resilience: “I just want people who are like me to know that they can come forward and be strong — I’ve gone from being a shy little timid girl to a strong independent woman.”

Detective Constable Cerith Griffiths, who handled the case, praised Ceri-Ann’s bravery. “She showed great strength and courage throughout this investigation. Recalling the distressing times she suffered during the ten years of abuse must have been extremely difficult for her, but by doing so she has helped to secure a lengthy prison sentence against her father. By speaking openly to the media, she will hopefully encourage other victims of sexual abuse to have the confidence to speak to police. We have specialist officers on hand who, along with our partner agencies, can offer full and appropriate support throughout,” she said.

Sally Howells of Torfaen Women’s Aid also commended Ceri-Ann’s resilience. “She’s been great in the face of adversity — being in a hostel, losing her job because of the pressure she was going through. She’s been amazing, she’s never wavered from the fact she was going to do this and wanted other people to know that if they were in a similar position they can get help. She’s amazing for such a young person,” she stated.

Victims of domestic and sexual abuse are encouraged to seek confidential help and advice from Women’s Aid, which has centers across Gwent, including in Newport, Pontypool, Cwmbran, and Blaenavon. For more information, contact 01495 742052 or 01633 624240.