RICHARD MARSH FROM PENARTH CONVICTED OF SEXUAL OFFENSES INVOLVING WOMAN AND TEENAGE GIRL IN CARDIFF

In a disturbing case that unfolded at Cardiff Crown Court, Richard Marsh, aged 38 and residing in Culver Close, Penarth, was found guilty of multiple serious sexual offenses involving two victims. The court heard that Marsh committed a heinous assault on a woman while she was asleep, as well as engaging in inappropriate and abusive conduct towards a teenage girl.

According to the evidence presented during the trial, Marsh sexually assaulted the woman without her consent while she was unconscious. The court was informed that the woman explicitly communicated her lack of consent during the incident, yet Marsh proceeded with the assault. The judge, Neil Bidder QC, emphasized the severity of the offense, stating, “I regard you as someone who is entirely amoral when it comes to sexual intercourse.”

Judge Bidder also highlighted the victim’s vulnerability, noting that she was asleep at the time of the assault. The court remarked that Marsh was fully aware that if she had been awake, she would not have consented to his actions. The victim’s personal statement, read aloud in court, revealed the profound impact of the trauma. She described how discussing the incident causes her to become restless, pacing the floor and twitching uncontrollably. She also shared that she has struggled with sleep and eating, and has been diagnosed with anxiety and depression. The woman further disclosed that she experiences panic attacks without apparent cause, underscoring the lasting psychological scars left by the assault.

In addition to the attack on the woman, the court heard that Marsh engaged in inappropriate conduct with a teenage girl. The victim described how Marsh kissed her, touched her breasts, and encouraged her to engage in sexual activity with him. She recounted that this occurred during a period when she was preparing for her exams, which she subsequently failed due to her inability to concentrate, a direct consequence of the distress caused by Marsh’s actions.

Prosecutor Susan Ferrier revealed that a pre-sentence report classified Marsh as a high risk to cause further sexual harm to women and girls. The court found Marsh guilty of multiple charges, including attempting to rape the woman, assaulting her by penetration, inciting the teenage girl to engage in sexual activity, and four counts of sexual activity with a child.

Following the verdict, Marsh was sentenced to six and a half years in prison. Additionally, he is required to register as a sex offender indefinitely, reflecting the gravity of his offenses and the ongoing risk he poses to the community.