Sex Offender Jailed for Grooming Two Girls Under 16

A 51-year-old man has been sentenced to 12 years and 10 months in prison after sexually abusing two young girls under the age of 16. ⚖️

Rocci Malanti, of Tredegar Road, Ebbw Vale, was described as a “sexual deviant” who groomed his victims and exploited them after exhibiting what was described as a “dark side to him”.

Cardiff Crown Court heard how Malanti gained one victim’s trust by buying her alcohol and cigarettes and driving her around before sexually abusing her on multiple occasions. The victim told police she was “too scared to say no” and described how she had been “programmed to think” the abuse was normal.

Reading out her victim personal statement, the first victim said: “I didn’t realise anything that had been happening was wrong…. I was conditioned into thinking these things were normal and right… I had doubts about the relationship and questioned if it was right, but I would feel silly… I keep discovering the way the abuse and grooming has impacted on my life… I feel a fool and ashamed. I feel stupid but most of all I feel dirty.”

She continued: “Every day of my life I am reminded of (Malanti) and what he did to me. My whole life has been affected by what that man has done to me and this is something that will never leave me… I am not sure how I am feeling, I feel numb, I feel like my life is stuck on pause and I’m not able to move forward with anything until this has come to a conclusion.”

The second victim described her first sexual experience with Malanti, saying she held a pillow over her face as she “did not want to see what was going on”. In her statement, she said: “My brain blocked out a lot of childhood, I had suffered significant trauma as a child, trauma I did not understand… (Malanti) stole my virginity and took my innocence at a young age. It was something I did not understand at all… He used me as a piece of meat to satisfy his deviant sexual desires… It has angered me it took three years for him to admit what he did to me. I will never get my childhood back and will never forget what happened to me.”

The abuse came to light in 2022 when both victims gave interviews to police. When they told Malanti they were planning to speak to officers, he threatened to kill himself.

Malanti initially denied the offences but later pleaded guilty to six counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child, and engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child. He was of previous good character.

Recorder Paul Lewis commended the victims for their courage, telling the defendant: “No sentence that I pass can undo the harm that you have caused them.”

Malanti will also serve an extended licence period of two years and was made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order indefinitely. 👨‍⚖️