PATRICK FAWKES FROM MERTHYR TYDFIL AND NEW TREADEGAR SENTENCED FOR SERIAL RAPE NEAR PRIMARY SCHOOL

A man with a troubling criminal history, Patrick Timothy Fawkes, aged 54, has once again found himself in court facing serious allegations. His residence in Merthyr Tydfil, specifically at Tai Ysgol Fach in the Heolgerrig area, is alarmingly close to a local primary school—Heolgerrig Primary School—located just 315 metres away. This proximity has raised concerns given Fawkes’s past offenses and the nature of his latest conviction.

Fawkes’s criminal record includes a significant conviction from 1999, when he was sentenced to 42 months in prison for the rape of a woman. During that incident, he was found guilty of tying up his victim before assaulting her. His history also reveals an earlier conviction from 1977, when he was convicted of indecently assaulting a boy under the age of 14. These prior convictions underscore a pattern of serious sexual offenses spanning decades.

Most recently, Fawkes appeared before Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court, where he admitted to committing another rape. The court proceedings revealed disturbing details about the incident, which took place in May. The prosecution, led by Heath Edwards, explained that Fawkes and the victim had arranged to meet after exchanging a series of text messages. Fawkes then traveled to her home, and during the encounter, the woman began to feel increasingly uncomfortable as physical contact escalated.

According to the court, the woman left the living room and went into the kitchen, but upon her return, Fawkes had already moved upstairs to the bedroom. When she entered the room, he proceeded to undress her. The woman described her reaction as one of paralysis; she 'froze' and did not resist physically, but her response was not positive. The assault continued in the bedroom, and afterward, the pair went to sleep. The woman, distressed by the events, contacted the police the following day.

Fawkes’s defense lawyer, Suzanne Ferrier, expressed remorse on his behalf, stating that he had apologized for his actions and wished he could undo what had happened. She highlighted that Fawkes appeared to have harbored hopes that the victim might have enjoyed the encounter, despite her clear objections. She cited a text message from Fawkes reading, “Did you love it last night my baby,” as evidence of his remorse.

Judge Richard Twomlow, presiding over the case, described Fawkes as a significant risk to public safety, emphasizing the potential for further harm and offenses. The court sentenced him to a total of eight years in prison—specifically, four years and four months for the rape. He will serve two-thirds of this sentence before being eligible for release. Additionally, Fawkes was handed an extended license period of three years and eight months, during which he will be subject to strict supervision.

Furthermore, Fawkes is required to pay a victim surcharge of £120 and will be registered as a sex offender for life, reflecting the severity of his crimes and the ongoing risk he poses to the community. His case has once again brought attention to the dangers posed by individuals with a history of sexual offenses living in close proximity to vulnerable populations, including children attending nearby schools.