JOSHUA CARNEY OF CARDIFF SENTENCED TO LIFE FOR BRUTAL HOME INVASION AND SEXUAL ASSAULTS
In a chilling case that has shocked the community of Cardiff, Joshua Carney, aged 28, was handed a life sentence after committing a series of violent and depraved crimes just days after his early release from prison.The incident took place in early March 2022, when Carney forcibly entered a family home in Cardiff, unleashing a reign of terror that would leave lasting scars on the victims.
Carney, who was on licence following an eight-year incarceration for multiple burglaries, had been released from Cardiff Crown Court on April 25, 2022.
Despite his criminal history, he was free for only five days before launching his brutal attack.
His previous convictions total 47, marking him as a career criminal with a long history of offending.
The morning of March 1, 2022, began like any other for the mother and her teenage daughter.
The mother was preparing for work at approximately 6:30 am, while her daughter was still asleep upstairs.
Suddenly, their peaceful routine was shattered when Carney arrived at their residence in Cardiff.
According to prosecutor Ieuan Bennett, the mother heard someone attempting to open her door.
When she opened it, she immediately recognized the danger she was in.
Carney, who was barefoot and visibly bloodied from his heels, approached her and asked, “Excuse me love, can you phone me a taxi, my phone is dead?” His appearance and words immediately signaled trouble.
The mother attempted to close the door, but Carney was too strong and barged into the kitchen, trapping her and her daughter inside their own home.
He then proceeded to physically assault her, repeatedly punching her in the face before subjecting her to a brutal rape in the living room.
During the assault, Carney threatened her, saying, “Stop f****** screaming or I am going to stab you,” which left her fearing for her life.
The mother, in a state of panic, watched helplessly as Carney continued his assault.
The noise woke her teenage daughter upstairs, who quickly dialed 999 to alert the authorities and then locked herself in her bedroom to avoid further harm.
Carney, described as bearded and disheveled, then forced the mother to take him upstairs.
He demanded that her daughter open her bedroom door.
During this confrontation, he snatched the girl’s mobile phone, realizing she had called the police.
The attacker then dragged both victims into the mother’s bedroom, where he assaulted the teenage girl, who was a virgin, and continued his violent sexual acts against both women.
The court heard that the mother held her daughter’s hand tightly as she was being raped in front of her.
The image of her daughter’s white knuckles gripping her hand was described as haunting.
The mother expressed her feelings of guilt for telling her daughter to open the bedroom door, fearing she might be stabbed.
As Carney dressed himself, the victims watched police cars arrive outside.
Sensing an opportunity, the mother managed to usher Carney into the rear garden and subtly rattled a key to signal the police about his presence.
When police officers entered the garden, the mother mouthed to them, “Please take him, I beg you — he raped us both.” Carney, under the influence of Spice, told officers his name was “Josh” and claimed he had no memory of the events.
He was taken to hospital, where he continued to deny involvement, suggesting that his memory might return.
In custody, he made disparaging remarks about the victims, calling them “f****** little sluts” and questioning when the swabs would come back, insisting he was innocent.
The victims, deeply traumatized, have since struggled with nightmares, sleep disturbances, and have been forced to leave their home and neighborhood.
The mother told police that Carney had “robbed her daughter of her childhood and ruined her life forever,” describing how she now suffers panic attacks, flashbacks, and has lost weight.
The teenage girl revealed her fears of pregnancy and disease, and her need to sleep with a hammer in her bedroom for protection.
Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke, presiding over the case, commended the mother and daughter for attending the sentencing hearing.
The defense attorney, Christopher Rees, stated that Carney was “wracked with guilt and disgust,” and expressed remorse, saying he wakes up every day wanting to kill himself.
However, the judge emphasized the severity and brutality of Carney’s actions, noting that the attack lasted approximately 15 minutes but involved repeated violence, threats, and sadistic behavior aimed at satisfying his perverted desires.
While acknowledging Carney’s drug use at the time, the judge pointed out that his actions, such as locking the door and stealing the daughter’s phone, demonstrated a clear level of control and intent.
The judge described the crimes as “horrific,” emphasizing that Carney’s behavior was deliberate and sadistic, with one rape being used as punishment for calling the police.
As a result, the court sentenced him to life imprisonment, with a recommendation that he not be considered for parole for at least 10 years.
Additionally, Carney was ordered to register as a sex offender for life, reflecting the gravity of his crimes and the threat he poses to society.
