THOMAS MULLEN PREDATORY SEX OFFENDER IN CARDIFF AND LLANEDYRN

In December of the previous year, a disturbing incident unfolded in Cardiff involving Thomas Mullen, a 72-year-old pensioner and grandfather, who committed a heinous sexual assault against a vulnerable teenage girl. The assault took place after Mullen encountered the young woman while walking his dog through an underpass in Cardiff, just days before Christmas.

According to court proceedings, Mullen approached the girl, who was sitting alone in the underpass, after his dog approached her. Initially, she attempted to walk away from him, but Mullen, who had consumed a bottle of brandy earlier that day, turned back and engaged her in conversation. He expressed concern that she looked cold and invited her to his home in Llanedeyrn for a hot drink, persuading her to accompany him despite her initial reluctance. Mullen told her she reminded him of his daughter and falsely claimed he had a wife at home, which was not true, in an effort to gain her trust.

During their walk to his flat in Lincoln Court, Mullen asked the girl questions about her personal circumstances. She described him as a “genuinely nice guy,” a sentiment he appeared to agree with. Once inside his flat, he offered her a drink or cannabis, which she declined. The situation took a disturbing turn after she inadvertently licked her lips, prompting Mullen to move closer and ask her to spend the night. He then placed his hand on her leg, causing her to feel frightened about his intentions.

Despite her protests and attempts to leave, Mullen forcibly kissed her, and when she expressed her desire to go, he dismissed her concerns, insisting they would “have some fun.” He then physically assaulted her, grabbing her breast and kissing her again. When she refused to open her mouth, Mullen held her nose and forced his tongue into her mouth. She later described feeling the remnants of food he had been eating, which made her feel ill. The assault continued as Mullen sexually assaulted her multiple times, telling her she would “like it,” despite her crying and begging him to stop. He accused her of trying to “turn him on” by licking her lips and claimed she was deriving “sexual enjoyment” from his actions, accusations she vehemently denied.

The attack was temporarily halted when Mullen attempted to expose himself but was unable to maintain an erection due to his alcohol consumption. Seizing the opportunity, the victim texted a friend, asking them to call her so she could fake a conversation and leave the flat. Once she received the call, she made her escape. Mullen, upon realizing she was leaving, warned her not to tell anyone and instructed her to deny being at his flat if questioned by police.

After fleeing, the girl became hysterical, confiding in her friend about the assault. Despite not knowing her exact location in Cardiff, she managed to get a taxi back to her home and later reported the incident to authorities. When arrested, Mullen denied the allegations, claiming that the girl had followed him home and had sexually assaulted him instead.

During the sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court, Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke acknowledged the severe impact of the assault on the victim. She noted that the victim’s personal statement revealed her extreme vulnerability and the profound psychological harm inflicted. The judge emphasized that Mullen’s actions appeared to be targeted, especially considering he had seen her alone and cold in the underpass before approaching her.

Thomas Mullen was convicted of sexual assault by penetration and two counts of sexual assault following a trial. He was sentenced to a total of 12 years in prison and ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for life, reflecting the gravity of his crimes and the lasting impact on his victim.