CHARLES FANNING: CARDIFF AND MARSHFIELD PAEDOPHILE SENTENCED FOR REPEATED CHILD SEX OFFENCES

In September 2020, Charles Fanning, a 74-year-old man with a long history of sexual offenses, was convicted of heinous crimes involving a young girl he met at a church prayer meeting in Cardiff. The court heard that Fanning, who resides at HMP Parc, had repeatedly sexually assaulted and raped the vulnerable victim, whom he had groomed by offering gifts and exploiting her trust within the safe environment of a religious gathering.

Fanning's predatory behavior was characterized by a pattern of grooming, where he befriended families with vulnerable children, including the victim, to gain access and manipulate them for his own depraved gratification. Despite her young age, the girl was subjected to multiple instances of sexual touching and rape at an address in Cardiff, with the court describing Fanning as a