07/04/2006
Man pleads guilty to toddler abduction
A man has admitted to kidnapping a three-year-old girl, driving her hundreds of miles from her home and sexually assaulting her.
Craig Sweeney abducted the toddler from her home in the Rumney area of Cardiff on January 2.
He then drove the child over the border into England and sexually assaulted her.
Police officers found Sweeney and the child when they began to pursue his car after he jumped a red light. Sweeney then crashed the car on the A4 between Wiltshire and Berkshire.
The toddler was treated in hospital for injuries which the police described as "significant" and was later released.
Sweeney pleaded guilty to four charges of kidnap, three charges of sexual assault and one count of dangerous driving.
Judge John Griffiths-Williams at Cardiff Crown Court said that he had two sentencing options - life imprisonment or imprisoning Sweeney for public protection.
The case has been adjourned until May 12 for sentencing.
Sweeney was remanded in custody.
(KMcA)
Craig Sweeney abducted the toddler from her home in the Rumney area of Cardiff on January 2.
He then drove the child over the border into England and sexually assaulted her.
Police officers found Sweeney and the child when they began to pursue his car after he jumped a red light. Sweeney then crashed the car on the A4 between Wiltshire and Berkshire.
The toddler was treated in hospital for injuries which the police described as "significant" and was later released.
Sweeney pleaded guilty to four charges of kidnap, three charges of sexual assault and one count of dangerous driving.
Judge John Griffiths-Williams at Cardiff Crown Court said that he had two sentencing options - life imprisonment or imprisoning Sweeney for public protection.
The case has been adjourned until May 12 for sentencing.
Sweeney was remanded in custody.
(KMcA)
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