CLARK HALL FROM SWANSEA JAILED FOR SEXUAL OFFENSES INVOLVING SCHOOLGIRL IN SWANSEA

In July 2010, Clark Hall, a man residing in Swansea, was sentenced to a total of two and a half years in prison after being convicted of engaging in sexual activities with a 14-year-old girl. The case garnered significant attention due to the circumstances surrounding the incident, which involved Hall taking the underage girl away from her family and into Swansea for a period of five days.

Hall was accused of exploiting the girl after they met near her father’s residence in Slough. The court heard that the girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had decided to run away from her home following an argument with her father on November 17. The next day, she was discovered in Hall’s bed, leading to his arrest. Despite being released shortly afterward, the girl’s relationship with Hall continued, and three days later, she met him again at Slough railway station after another dispute with her father. Subsequently, she was reported missing to Thames Valley Police between November 21 and 27, prompting a search for her that involved both Thames Valley Police and South Wales Police.

During the investigation, authorities conducted multiple raids and house-to-house searches in Beacons View Road, Swansea, where Hall was eventually located. The jury, composed of five men and seven women, deliberated for less than two hours before finding Hall guilty of two counts of sexual activity with a child. Hall, aged 22 at the time and with a criminal record that included convictions for burglary, theft, and perverting the course of justice, maintained that he believed the girl was 16 years old at the time of the incident. However, he denied having sexual intercourse with her.

The court proceedings revealed that Hall had taken advantage of the girl’s vulnerability, bringing her to Swansea, which is over 160 miles from her home, and keeping her there for several days. Although the jury acquitted him of kidnapping, the judge, Zoe Smith, emphasized the gravity of his actions. During the sentencing at Reading Crown Court, Judge Smith acknowledged that the minimum guideline sentence for such offenses was four years but decided to impose a lesser term due to exceptional circumstances. She pointed out that Hall’s mental age appeared to be that of a 14-year-old, which influenced her decision.

Judge Smith stated, “In starting this relationship with this girl, you embarked on behavior that is deemed criminal by the law. You also, at a time when she was vulnerable, took her to Wales for a number of days. However, this is an exceptional case. The jury has found you not guilty of kidnap. She was a strong character and she was the prime mover in going to Wales, and a prime mover in instigating sex between you. But you were the older person, so you should have resisted and made sure she stayed at home.”

As part of his sentence, Hall was ordered to serve 15 months in prison, with an additional 15 months on license upon release. Furthermore, he was mandated to sign an order prohibiting him from working with children for the next ten years. The court’s decision reflects the serious nature of his offenses, despite the circumstances that led to his conviction.