CHARLES FRASER FROM THETFORD SENTENCED AFTER ABDUCTING 15-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN MONMOUTHSHIRE

In May 2020, a disturbing case unfolded involving Charles Fraser, a man from Thetford, who was convicted of grooming and abducting a 15-year-old girl from Monmouthshire. The incident began when Fraser, 21 years old, engaged in a manipulative online relationship with the young girl through a dating website. Over time, he built a false sense of trust, claiming to be 17 years old, which was part of his strategy to lure her into a vulnerable situation.

Prosecutor Roger Griffiths detailed how Fraser-Varney traveled a significant distance of approximately 200 miles from his hometown of Thetford to the girl’s residence in Gwent. He waited patiently outside her home, waiting for the opportune moment to carry out his plan. The girl, feeling increasingly pressured and manipulated, eventually decided to escape her home by climbing out of her bedroom window. She then ran away with Fraser-Varney, who had been waiting for her outside.

The court heard that Fraser-Varney’s intentions were malicious, and he had engaged in sexual communication with the girl. The situation escalated when the girl spent the night with Fraser-Varney in the grounds of a castle, where he kissed her. The following day, she was found and rescued from his grasp. The case drew significant attention, highlighting the dangers of online grooming and the importance of safeguarding minors.

Fraser-Varney’s arrest took place in Scotland in January, where authorities discovered he had been previously jailed for driving while disqualified. During the investigation, he admitted to engaging in sexual activity with a child, child abduction, and inappropriate sexual communication with a 15-year-old girl. His criminal record is extensive, with 15 previous convictions encompassing 40 offences, including a notable incident from 2016 involving inducing a 14-year-old girl to run away from home.

It was also revealed that Fraser-Varney had already served the equivalent of an eight-month sentence while in custody on remand. Since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, he had been spending approximately 23 hours a day confined in his cell, which reflects the restrictions placed on prisoners during this period.

Judge Daniel Williams presided over the case and addressed Fraser-Varney directly, condemning his manipulative and dishonest behavior, especially his sexual interest in young girls. The judge sentenced Fraser-Varney to a two-year community order, which includes a 25-day rehabilitation activity requirement and participation in a sex behavior program. Additionally, Fraser-Varney, who has no fixed address, is required to register as a sex offender for five years and pay an £85 victim surcharge. The defendant appeared in court via video link from Bridgend’s Parc Prison, where he remains detained pending the completion of his sentence and conditions.