BLACKWOOD SEX OFFENDER ROSS KALIES RECAPTURED IN GWENT AREA AFTER BREACHING PRISON CONDITIONS

On August 8th, 2012, authorities confirmed the recapture of Ross Kalies, a known child sex offender from Blackwood, who had been released from prison earlier that year but was now back in custody. Kalies, aged 56, was initially released on licence on February 17, 2012, after serving a sentence for serious sexual offences committed against children. His release was contingent upon strict conditions, but he was subsequently arrested in Cardiff for an unspecified breach of these licence terms.

Gwent Police issued an urgent appeal for information regarding Kalies’s whereabouts, as they believed he might be hiding in the Cardiff, Brecon, Tenby, or Caerphilly County areas—regions where he had previously been known to reside or spend time. Authorities suspected that Kalies could be sleeping rough, making him difficult to locate. The police described him as a white male, approximately 5 feet 7 inches tall, with a slight build. He has a scruffy appearance, shoulder-length dark brown or greying wavy hair, a ginger or greying beard, long sideburns, and blue eyes. His teeth are yellowed, and he speaks with a Welsh accent.

Kalies’s criminal history is extensive and disturbing. In November 2009, he was sentenced to four years in prison after admitting to multiple charges of sexual abuse against a young girl under the age of 12. The court heard that over a period of five years, Kalies committed various offences including indecent assault, indecency with a child, sexual activity with a child, and inciting a child to engage in sexual acts. The victim suffered significant emotional and psychological harm, which was emphasized during sentencing.

Prosecutor Hywel Hughes revealed that the police investigation was initiated after Kalies confided in a work colleague about his offences. Initially, in January 2012, Kalies denied all charges except one count of sexual activity with a child and was scheduled for trial in May. However, he failed to appear in court, and subsequent police efforts uncovered that he had fled to Pembrokeshire, where he was found sleeping rough. He was arrested and later pleaded guilty to the remaining charges.

Judge William Gaskell sentenced Kalies to a total of four years for two counts of indecent assault, two years for the remaining two counts, and two years each for the six counts of indecency with a child. Additional sentences included two years for causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and three-and-a-half and four years for the sexual activity charges, all to run concurrently. The court also imposed a 28-day sentence for absconding from custody. As part of his sentence, Kalies is required to undergo a sexual offender treatment programme, register as a sex offender for life, and is prohibited from working or living with children.

Following his release in February 2012, Kalies was placed on licence but was recalled to prison after breaching its conditions. The police’s ongoing efforts aim to locate him and ensure he remains in custody, given the serious nature of his past crimes and the potential risk he poses to the community.