NATHAN DENNING'S SHOCKING CRIMES IN BRIDGEND AND PORTHCAWL REVEALED

In October 2021, a disturbing case emerged involving Nathan Denning, a man with a long history of sexual offenses, who was caught attempting to approach children in Bridgend. The incident came to light after a mother discovered online articles detailing Denning's previous convictions, prompting her to alert the police. Denning, aged 46 and residing in Maesteg, Bridgend, had a notorious past that included multiple convictions for sexual offenses spanning over two decades.

Denning was subject to a sexual harm prevention order (SHPO) due to his history of sexual misconduct, which included having sexual relations with underage girls and raping an adult woman. Legally, he was prohibited from contacting children whose parents were unaware of his criminal record. Despite these restrictions, Denning repeatedly sought to ingratiate himself with children in public spaces by introducing himself and even bringing along his pet budgies in a cage, offering to show them to children playing nearby. His actions raised serious concerns about his intentions, especially given his known criminal background.

The discovery was made when a mother, whose daughter was approached by Denning, found an online article that detailed his previous convictions. She promptly contacted the police, leading to an investigation. On September 29, police officers visited Denning’s residence, and he was subsequently arrested. During police interviews, Denning admitted to approaching children between June and August of that year. He later pleaded guilty to breaching the terms of his SHPO.

At Cardiff Crown Court, the court heard about Denning’s extensive history of sexual offending, which dates back to 1996. His first known conviction was a caution for having sexual intercourse with a girl under 16. In 2000, he was sentenced to six months in prison for two separate offenses involving sexual intercourse with minors. That same year, he appeared before the courts again for failing to comply with notification requirements. His criminal record further includes a 2014 sentence of two years imprisonment after grooming and sexually abusing a 10-year-old girl, and a 2016 sentence of seven years for raping an adult woman. Following his 2016 conviction, he was placed under an indefinite SHPO.

Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke addressed the court, emphasizing the seriousness of Denning’s repeated offenses. She stated, “Your previous convictions show you to be a persistent and serious sex offender. You have committed offenses against both adult women and children. Previous court orders and sentences have not deterred you.” The judge highlighted that Denning’s interactions with children in breach of his SHPO appeared solely driven by sexual interest in minors.

Denning was sentenced to two years and six months in prison for breaching his SHPO. His criminal conduct, spanning from 1996 to 2016, underscores a pattern of predatory behavior that authorities found deeply troubling.

In a separate but related case in February 2016, Denning, then aged 40 and residing at Quay House Hostel in The Strand, Swansea, was convicted of raping a woman in Porthcawl in May 2014. The court heard that he had been celebrating after learning that his father was to be released from prison when he approached the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons. He asked her if she wanted to have sex, and when she refused, he forcibly grabbed her hands and raped her. The incident was reported three months later, after it was revealed that Denning had been grooming a child online, which led to a separate two-year imprisonment.

Throughout the trial, Denning maintained his innocence, and the victim was compelled to give evidence in court. In her victim impact statement, she described suffering from nightmares, depression, and anxiety, and expressed fear that Denning might try to find her after his release. She stated, “I will never be able to forgive him for what he did to me and I never want to see him again. I never want to go through a court process again after Nathan made me give evidence.”

Judge Recorder Mark Powell QC condemned Denning’s lack of empathy, noting, “You maintain your innocence. You have shown no remorse whatsoever and acknowledged that your victim could be afraid of you. You seem to have no empathy with no one but yourself. You have sexual entitlement beliefs underpinning your behaviour.” The judge sentenced him to seven years imprisonment and issued a restraining order to protect the victim from further contact.

These cases highlight the ongoing dangers posed by Nathan Denning, whose criminal history and recent actions continue to threaten the safety of the community in Bridgend, Porthcawl, and beyond.