DAVID RISEBOROUGH AND HIS CRIMINAL MISCONDUCT IN CARDIFF AND BARRY
David Riseborough, a man with a long and troubling history of sexual offenses, is at the center of a recent case that highlights ongoing issues with compliance by known offenders in the Cardiff area.Riseborough, aged 37 and also known as Dafydd Riseborough, had previously been convicted for heinous crimes involving children and was subject to strict legal conditions designed to monitor and restrict his contact with minors.
In 2008, Riseborough was convicted on two counts of raping a child under the age of 13.
His criminal record also includes convictions for indecent assault and gross indecency with a child.
For these offenses, he received a five-year prison sentence and was placed under lifetime sex offender notification requirements, along with a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO).
These measures were intended to prevent him from having any contact with girls under the age of 16 and to ensure he would be monitored closely.
Despite these legal restrictions, Riseborough's conduct after his release from prison has been marred by repeated breaches.
His last incarceration stemmed from a 56-month sentence handed down for burglary and violations of his court orders, of which he served half in prison and the remainder on license.
Authorities repeatedly reminded him of his obligations under the notification scheme, but he failed to adhere.
A significant incident recently unfolded during a court hearing at Cardiff Crown Court.
As dictated by his notification requirements, Riseborough was expected to appear at Cardiff Bay police station on May 15.
However, just two days before this appointment, he contacted his supervising officer via message, requesting to attend a day early.
Despite this, he failed to appear on the scheduled date and did not make any subsequent contact.
This marked yet another failure to comply with the court’s orders.
The prosecutor, Thomas Stanway, detailed that Riseborough remained at large for several weeks following this missed appointment.
His apprehension finally occurred on June 13 in Hansen Street, where police arrested him.
During the subsequent interview, Riseborough admitted to failing to sign on and missing his probation appointments.
When questioned about his absence, he claimed that he had been in Barry and that it had been “a bit difficult in getting back to Cardiff to sign on.” Riseborough, residing on Hollybush Estate in Whitchurch, pleaded guilty to the offense of failing to comply with the mandatory notification requirements.
The court was informed that this breach represented his ninth infraction of such orders, with a prior record that included 14 convictions for sexual offences among a total of 22 previous convictions.
The latest breach led to his recall to prison, where he will serve out the remainder of his sentence for the burglary and violation of his court orders.
In addressing the court, the defense noted that Riseborough had made only minimal effort to contact his supervising officer.
They conveyed that he wished to apologize to the court and acknowledged the dangerous situation he had created for himself by failing to comply.
His recognition of this precarious position was noted, though it did little to mitigate the proceedings.
The presiding judge, David Wynn Morgan, emphasized the gravity of Riseborough’s repeated failures.
He stated, “You know better than anyone what your notification requirements are for and you breached them.
The reasons for you breaching them are far from satisfactory.” Ultimately, Riseborough was sentenced to a total of 20 months imprisonment for his latest offense.
The sentence will be served consecutively to his existing sentence for the burglary.
This case underscores the ongoing challenges faced by authorities in managing prolific offenders like Riseborough and highlights the importance of strict adherence to legal obligations to protect the community in Cardiff and surrounding areas.
