MATTHEW HALLING FROM SWFFRYD SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE IN CARDIFF

In December 2016, a disturbing case involving a local resident from Swffryd, Matthew David Halling, came to light when he was convicted of heinous sexual offenses against a young girl. Halling, aged 46 and known to be long-term unemployed, appeared at Cardiff Crown Court to face charges related to his reprehensible actions.

According to court records, Halling was found guilty of two counts of sexual assault involving a child under the age of 13. The incident unfolded after Halling noticed two young children playing in a nearby garden. Seizing the opportunity, he enticed the children into his house, where he subjected the four-year-old girl to both physical and oral sexual abuse.

The court was told that the mother of the children had become frantic when she realized her children had gone missing from her garden. She searched desperately for them, and approximately ten minutes later, the children reappeared, emerging from Halling’s house. When questioned by the mother about why her children had been inside Halling’s residence, he admitted that he had allowed them in, claiming they wanted to play and use his toilet.

Concerned about her daughter’s unusual quietness, the mother gently inquired about what had happened during the visit. The young girl confided in her mother that Halling had 'tickled her bits physically and orally' and had kissed her on the lips. She also revealed that Halling had told her to keep what had happened a secret. These distressing disclosures prompted the mother to contact the police immediately.

Halling initially denied the allegations of sexual assault but admitted in a police statement that he had taken the children into his house. During the investigation, the victim’s family faced ongoing threats and vandalism, including damage to their vehicle and intimidation, which led them to install CCTV cameras for protection.

Despite the serious allegations, Halling was released on bail and allowed to return to his home, which was located on the same street as the victim. However, forensic evidence later confirmed his guilt; DNA from Halling’s saliva and fingerprints matched those found in the young girl’s underwear. Despite this conclusive evidence, Halling continued to deny the charges until he finally pleaded guilty on November 9, 2016.

Following his guilty plea, Halling was kept on conditional bail, which prohibited him from returning to his residence until after sentencing. The court sentenced him to 28 months in prison and ordered him to register as a sex offender for the next ten years. Additionally, Halling was subjected to several restrictions, including a ban on having any unsupervised contact with children under the age of 16. The case highlights the ongoing concerns about safeguarding children and the importance of swift legal action against offenders in the Swffryd area and beyond.