ALI NANU'S HORRIFIC CRIME IN CARDIFF: STALKING AND RAPE SHOCKS THE CITY

In a chilling case that has sent shockwaves through the city of Cardiff, a man named Ali Nanu was sentenced to life imprisonment at Cardiff Crown Court after being convicted of a brutal stalking and sexual assault on a young woman. The incident took place in a quiet suburb of Cardiff, where the victim, a 21-year-old receptionist working at a local building society, was targeted late at night.

According to court reports, Nanu, a Bangladeshi national who was employed at an Indian restaurant in Cardiff, had previously served time for a sex attack on a 12-year-old girl. Following his release from prison, he had changed his identity, making it more difficult for authorities to track his criminal history. Despite this, his past crimes and dangerous behavior were brought to light during the trial.

The court heard that the young woman had been out after work, walking home alone after becoming separated from her friends. It was a notably quiet night, and she was unaware that she was being followed. As she proceeded along her route, she suddenly became conscious of a male presence behind her. Sensing danger, she quickened her pace, but Nanu caught up with her, calling out, “Come on, come on.”

Prosecutor Hywel Hughes described the terrifying sequence of events, stating that Nanu grabbed the woman by the arm and forcibly pushed her into the doorway of an unoccupied house. There, he carried out a violent and sexual assault. The court was told that Nanu, who was described as “too heavy and strong” for the woman to resist effectively, overpowered her. Despite her efforts to struggle free, she was unable to escape his grasp.

During the attack, the woman fell to the ground, with Nanu falling on top of her. She fought back as best as she could, but her resistance was futile against his strength. At some point, Nanu abruptly ceased his assault and walked away from the scene. The young woman managed to reach her home, where her mother called the police, leading to Nanu’s arrest.

In court, Nanu, who required an interpreter to communicate, denied the rape charge, claiming that the woman had initiated contact with him on the street and even kissed him. However, a jury composed of seven men and five women deliberated for just an hour before finding him guilty of the crime.

The court also heard that Nanu had a prior conviction from 2001, when he was sentenced to 18 months in prison for a sexual attack on a 12-year-old girl. He admitted to that offense but had changed his name upon release and failed to register as a sex offender, which compounded his criminal record.

Judge David Wynn Morgan sentenced Nanu to life imprisonment, emphasizing the ongoing danger he posed to women. The judge described the attack as “every woman’s nightmare,” highlighting that it involved a stranger, late at night, in a secluded area, and amounted to an abduction. The judge further stated that Nanu’s pattern of preying on vulnerable females, particularly those younger and smaller than himself, made him a significant threat to public safety.

Expressing his concern, Judge Morgan declared that only a lengthy prison sentence could adequately protect the public from such a dangerous individual. Outside the court, the victim’s parents praised her bravery for reporting the incident to the police, acknowledging her courage in the face of such a traumatic ordeal.