JOSEPH REES FROM LLANTWIT FARDRE SENTENCED FOR BRUTAL RAPE NEAR LLANBRADACH LIBRARY

In a harrowing case that has shocked the community of Llantwit Fardre and the surrounding areas, Joseph Rees, a 19-year-old man from Llantwit Fardre, was convicted of the heinous assault and rape of an 11-year-old girl. The incident took place in broad daylight near a library in Llanbradach, Caerphilly, in January of 2010, and has left many residents deeply disturbed by the severity of the crime.

According to court reports, Rees lured the young girl into nearby bushes while she was walking through a local park en route to a friend's house. The girl, who was familiar with the route and believed she was in a safe area, was suddenly confronted by Rees, who threatened her with violence. He threatened to kill her if she attempted to escape, and the attack unfolded in a secluded spot away from public view.

Prosecutor Caroline Rees detailed the sequence of events during the trial, explaining that the girl had seen Rees earlier riding a BMX bike in the vicinity. As she continued her walk, she heard rustling in the bushes and turned to see Rees behind her. When she tried to walk away, he forcibly dragged her into the bushes, out of sight from passersby.

The girl recounted that Rees kept one hand over her mouth to silence her during the assault. She also described how he initially claimed to be a police officer, a claim she did not believe. Rees then threatened her with a knife, stating, “I have got a knife in my pocket to kill you,” and warned that if she told anyone, he would kill her and continue stabbing her until she died.

During the attack, the girl struggled fiercely, kicking and screaming in an effort to resist her attacker. Fortunately, a dog walker who heard her distress found her sobbing and attempting to dress herself. The dog walker then took her home, where she confided in her mother about the assault, revealing that she had been raped by a stranger — the defendant, Joseph Rees.

Rees’s arrest was facilitated by information from his foster mother, who had been visiting him over Christmas. She recognized him from descriptions and clothing seen in the police investigation. When she contacted authorities, Rees was found at his home and taken into custody that same night.

Rees’s background was described as troubled, with reports indicating that he had set fire to his brother’s cot at the age of just three. His history and the nature of his crimes led the court to consider him a highly dangerous individual.

Judge Nicholas Cooke, the Recorder of Cardiff, sentenced Rees to a minimum of six and a half years in prison, with the possibility of indefinite detention. The judge emphasized the gravity of the crime, describing it as “an act of repulsive wickedness,” and made it clear that Rees would only be released when deemed safe and appropriate, which could potentially be never.

Additionally, a sexual offences prevention order was granted, restricting Rees from having contact with anyone under 18 unless in a public setting or accompanied by an adult. He was also banned from entering public parks alone. Judge Cooke warned Rees that his release was contingent upon the authorities’ assessment of his safety, underscoring the seriousness of his actions and the threat he poses to the community.