CRAIG SWEENEY: SHOCKING NEWPORT PAEDOPHILE COULD BE BACK ON THE STREETS IN JUST A YEAR

In a development that has sent shockwaves through the community of Newport, convicted paedophile Craig Sweeney remains a significant concern for local residents and the family of his young victim. Despite his recent bid for parole being officially rejected, authorities have revealed that he could potentially be released back into society within a year, raising fears and anxieties among those directly affected.

It has been confirmed that Sweeney’s parole application, submitted earlier this year in February, was denied by the probation service, which insisted that he must remain incarcerated. However, the Ministry of Justice has clarified that such cases are subject to review, and it is possible for his case to be reconsidered within a period of one to two years. This news has left the family of the three-year-old girl he abducted and assaulted in a state of ongoing distress.

The father of the young victim, who has chosen to remain anonymous for legal reasons, expressed his frustration and fear, stating, “It is just a delay. At some point he will get out. It’s just a case of when. It’s just a waiting game.” His words reflect the deep concern that many in Newport share about the potential for Sweeney’s early release.

Sweeney, now 40 years old, was originally sentenced in 2006 for a heinous attack on his three-year-old victim. The crime involved kidnapping the child from her Cardiff home, driving her to his Newport flat, and sexually abusing her. His criminal history includes an early release from a three-year sentence for indecent assault on a six-year-old girl, which had expired just two days before his current parole application.

The family of the victim, who cannot be publicly identified, has voiced their fears and anger. The father remarked, “It was almost six years ago. Another year is not going to take very long. This was the first time he had applied for parole. Come February, he will have served his five years and 108 days—the minimum tariff of his sentence. It’s amazing what a life sentence is.”

Public outrage erupted in 2006 when it was revealed that Sweeney could potentially be released within six years of his sentencing. The family and advocacy groups expressed their dismay, emphasizing the perceived leniency of his punishment. They called for a review of sentencing guidelines for such crimes, arguing that harsher penalties are necessary to protect the public.

During the sentencing at Cardiff Crown Court, Judge John Griffith Williams QC described Sweeney as a “thoroughly devious man” who kidnapped the child for his own sexual gratification. The judge sentenced him to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of five years before parole eligibility, citing the severity of his actions and the lasting impact on the victim and her family. The court heard how Sweeney had snatched the girl from her home in Rumney, Cardiff, on the evening of January 2, 2006, and drove her to his Newport flat, where he sexually assaulted her.

Police later located the girl in Wiltshire after a high-speed car chase involving erratic driving at speeds up to 100 mph. Sweeney, driving without lights and jumping red lights, was eventually arrested near Marlborough. The girl was found lying injured at the side of the road after Sweeney had thrown her from the vehicle. She suffered minor injuries from the fall but required hospital treatment for more significant injuries inflicted during the attack.

Sweeney admitted to four charges of kidnapping, three of sexual assault, and one of dangerous driving. His defense team claimed he had shown remorse and was distressed about his actions, but he remained largely unemotional during the sentencing hearing, bowing his head and showing little reaction to the court proceedings.

The family of the young girl continues to live with the trauma of that night, and the prospect of Sweeney’s potential early release only exacerbates their fears. The father has publicly stated that he would “go for him” if he ever saw Sweeney on the street, underscoring the ongoing anger and sense of injustice felt by many in the community of Newport.