A Pentwyn Rapist, Dale Edey, attempted to forcibly pull a female into a thicket during a harrowing incident in a park. Dale Edey, feigning a search for a missing dog, seized the woman.
The 38-year-old individual singled out the woman while traversing Bute Park in Cardiff at approximately 6.30 am on August 31 of the previous year. In court, it was shown that Edey embraced the woman tightly and kissed her forcefully, then tried to pull her towards a secluded part of the park.
The sentencing hearing at Newport Crown Court on Tuesday, July 11, revealed that the victim had engaged in a morning walk and talked with her mother over the phone. She observed his presence upon arriving at a park section equipped with outdoor fitness apparatus.
According to Prosecutor Roger Griffiths, Edey enquired whether the victim had observed a dog. The victim responded negatively but expressed a willingness to remain vigilant. Mr Griffiths stated that the individual in question approached the woman, forcefully embraced her, and proceeded to kiss her neck. She exerted force in an attempt to resist him and commenced emitting loud vocalisations.
The victim descended to the floor, at which point Edey immobilised her by pressing her firmly against the ground. He then endeavoured to transport her towards a neighbouring hedge and bushes. While doing the action, the victim accidentally struck her head against the exercise equipment.
She persisted in screaming while the defendant forcefully grasped her garments, specifically her clothing and jogging bottoms, in an attempt to remove them forcibly. According to Mr Griffiths, the victim expressed that she cried loudly for help, and the perpetrator replied by threatening to murder her if she didn’t stop.
“The defendant left her after she transitioned from screaming to pleading, persistently resisting.” Upon reaching the Blackweir gate of the park, the victim saw a man who offered assistance, prompting the police to be summoned.
The park was temporarily closed to conduct investigations, during which the victim’s clothing was meticulously inspected for forensic evidence. Forensic analysis revealed the presence of DNA evidence on the waistband of her jogging bottoms, which had a matching profile to that of Edey.
Edey, residing on Pennsylvania Avenue in Pentwyn, was apprehended on September 19. Despite the charges brought against him, he refuted them and chose not to provide any response to the enquiries made. Subsequently, he admitted his guilt for sexual assault, assault resulting in physical harm, and engaging in an act to commit a related sexual offence.
The court was informed that he had a total of 31 prior convictions, one of which was for assault by beating. During the court proceedings, the victim expressed in their victim personal statement that they had had anxiety as a result of the assault. This anxiety has had a significant impact on their daily functioning.
“In the immediate aftermath of the attack, I would experience emotional distress and uncontrollable crying episodes in various locations and at any given moment.” I was profoundly disturbed after attending the incident. It has a detrimental impact on my sleep, frequently causing me to have vivid dreams about the event, and to this day, I continue to experience recurring nightmares.
“I sustained initial injuries resulting in bruises and torn muscles, causing discomfort and difficulty in sleeping due to soreness.” I experienced a sense of defeat, requiring a significant amount of time to recuperate from such a state.
She further stated: “The occurrence occurred during daylight hours, which generally causes me to feel unsettled. I experience unease regarding my surroundings and the presence of others, particularly when I am alone.”
“I am no longer able to engage in conversations with unfamiliar individuals. This is a source of great sadness for me, as I used to possess a friendly and helpful demeanour. However, due to my fear of strangers, I have decided to refrain from interacting with them.”
Heath Edwards argued that the encounter was “isolated” and that his client had not been previously convicted of any sexual offences. He stated that the defendant would have the opportunity to participate in pertinent programs while in detention, where he had been employed as a wing cleaner.
The Recorder of Cardiff, Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke, stated that Edey had declined to exit his cell and appear at the sentencing hearing for the second consecutive day. As a result, he will be sentenced in his absence. She stated: “You inflicted significant psychological damage and employed physical force against your victim.”
Dale Edey received a sentence of four years and 11 months of imprisonment and an additional three years on licence. He will serve 66.67% of the sentence before he is eligible for release. In addition, he was also subjected to sex offender notification obligations.
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