MYRDDYN PENDRAGON'S CRIMES IN CARDIFF: SERIAL PREDATOR AND SEX OFFENDER SENTENCED
In a harrowing case that has shocked the community of Cardiff, Myrddyn Pendragon, a 55-year-old man previously known as Simon Clarke, has been convicted of multiple serious sexual offenses against a young girl during the early 2000s.The victim, who has chosen to remain anonymous to protect her identity, recounted the devastating impact of Pendragon’s actions on her life during a sentencing hearing held at Newport Crown Court.
According to court proceedings, Pendragon subjected the girl to a series of sexual assaults over a period of two years.
The victim described how Pendragon forcefully kissed her, touched her breasts, and engaged in inappropriate contact with her vagina on numerous occasions.
She revealed that she was terrified during these incidents, feeling too frightened to confide in anyone at the time.
Despite her fear, she attempted to resist and told Pendragon she did not like what he was doing, desperately trying to make him stop.
The court was told that the victim, who was a vulnerable child at the time, experienced profound emotional and psychological trauma as a result of the abuse.
She shared her feelings of withdrawal, anger, and self-harm, which began after the abuse started.
Her statement painted a picture of a once happy child who became increasingly isolated and distressed.
She expressed her ongoing struggles with nightmares, anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts, emphasizing that the trauma has left a permanent scar on her life.
She also conveyed her difficulty trusting others, including her own family, and her aversion to physical contact, which continues into her adulthood.
During the hearing, Pendragon, who was attending via videolink from HMP Parc, initially denied the allegations, claiming that the victim had fabricated the story.
However, he later pleaded guilty to six counts of sexual assault.
The court heard that Pendragon’s criminal history includes a previous conviction in 2013 for sexually abusing another teenager, which resulted in a 14-year prison sentence.
Additionally, he had been given a conditional discharge in 1987 for engaging in sexual intercourse with a girl under 16.
The judge, Richard Williams, described Pendragon as a “serial predatory paedophile” and emphasized the devastating effect his actions had on the victim.
In his sentencing remarks, he imposed an extended sentence of 12 years in prison, with Pendragon required to serve two-thirds of that term before being eligible for parole.
Earlier in his criminal career, Pendragon, then known as Simon David Clark, had been brought before Cardiff magistrates in 1987 for similar offenses involving a girl under 16.
He received a conditional discharge, but his pattern of offending persisted over the years.
In October 2013, Pendragon, then aged 48, was involved in a separate case where he was found guilty of rape and sex assaults after fleeing South Wales and going on the run in Scotland.
He was eventually captured after a month-long manhunt, during which he was seen on CCTV in various public places.
His arrest came after a warrant was executed, and he subsequently pleaded guilty to the charges, which included incitement, sexual assault, attempted rape, and rape.
The court sentenced him to 14 years in prison for these offenses.
Throughout the proceedings, Pendragon’s defense highlighted his health issues, including agoraphobia, asthma, depression, and anxiety, and argued that these conditions affected his behavior.
Despite this, the court condemned his actions, with Judge David Wynn Morgan describing him as “a wicked and evil man,” and ordering a sexual offences prevention order to prevent him from contacting young girls in the future.
The case underscores the long history of offending by Pendragon, who has repeatedly exploited vulnerabilities and caused irreparable harm to his victims.
