A 61-year-old man from Newbridge has been sentenced to 25 years’ imprisonment at Cardiff Crown Court after pleading guilty to a sustained campaign of child sexual abuse and rapes committed against four young boys during the 1990s.
Anthony Badham, of Greenfield, Newbridge, appeared for sentence on Friday 23 October 2026 following an extensive historical safeguarding inquiry conducted by Gwent Police.
The prosecution detailed that Badham carried out the offences over a prolonged timeframe during the 1990s, when he was aged between 25 and 32, while living in the Risca and Pontymister areas. The court heard that Badham was a well-known local figure who routinely engaged with neighbourhood children through his hobby of maintaining and repairing motor vehicles and bicycles. Badham exploited these interactions to establish trust, grooming four young boys aged between 10 and 15 before subjecting them to repeated sexual assaults and penetrative rapes.
The historical abuse came to the attention of law enforcement in 2022 when two survivors contacted Gwent Police to report the crimes they had suffered decades earlier. As detectives widened the investigation, two further victims came forward in 2025 to disclose separate abuse perpetrated by Badham during the same era.
Victim personal statements read to the court laid bare the enduring damage caused by Badham’s offending. One victim described living with “a deep-rooted internal anger,” while a second stated: “The abuse has had a profound effect on my mental health. I had feelings of shame, embarrassment and self-blame. It has continued to shape my life. The consequences have continued for decades”. A third survivor stated: “I felt so ashamed and alone… I’m so grateful that justice has finally been served,” while the fourth added: “He has caused profound and lasting harm to children, including me. We’ve suffered decades of harm at his hands”.
Badham entered guilty pleas across the indictment, admitting to multiple counts of rape and indecent assault against male children under the age of 16.
Passing sentence, presiding judge Shomon Khan described Badham’s offending as being of the “utmost gravity” and condemned him as a “wicked and calculating” abuser whose actions caused heartrending and lasting trauma. The judge imposed a 26-year extended sentence comprising 25 years’ immediate custody and a one-year extended licence period. Badham must serve at least two-thirds of the 25-year custodial term in prison before becoming eligible to apply for release on licence to the Parole Board.
Following the sentencing, Detective Sergeant Laura Redwood, the Gwent Police officer in charge of the case, praised the survivors and issued an appeal for any further victims to come forward:
“At the heart of this investigation are four men, who have shown remarkable strength and resilience. Their courage in reporting the defendant’s despicable crimes mean he is rightfully behind bars.
“Through the accounts of the victims, we learned that Badham was well known in the community and would regularly engage with children through his hobby of fixing up cars and bikes. As a result, we believe that he may have had the opportunity to commit further offences against other children.
“We understand that reporting crimes of this nature can be difficult and daunting, but we want to stress that you are not alone. Anyone reporting child sexual offences will be listened to and supported”.
Police have urged anyone with relevant information or wishing to report offences linked to Badham to contact Gwent Police on 101, via direct message on social media, or through the force website.
The court granted an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order against Badham, placed him on the Sex Offenders Register for life, and barred him indefinitely from working with children or vulnerable adults.
Image – Anonymous Artist Impression
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