A Cardiff couple who dubbed themselves “Bonnie and Clyde” have been jailed for exchanging nearly 100,000 messages plotting the brutal rape and sexual abuse of three young children, with Stuart Compton receiving a life sentence and NHS worker Tracy Turner handed 12 years plus extended licence at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court on Monday.
Stuart Compton, 46, of Cathays, Cardiff, must serve a minimum of seven years before he can apply for parole, whilst Tracy Turner, 52, of Roath, Cardiff, an operating theatre assistant at the University Hospital of Wales, received a 12-year custodial sentence with an additional two-year extended licence period.
The couple pleaded guilty to six counts each of arranging the commission of child sex offences following a year-long police investigation that began in June 2025 when a dating app alerted authorities to concerning conversations involving Compton.
Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke, the Recorder of Cardiff, told the court their messages showed plans that were “not pure fantasy” as the pair had “carefully identified” locations for attacks and discussed drugging children with sleeping pills.
“You were both sexually aroused by the idea of raping a child,” the judge stated, adding that both defendants continued to “deny your sexual interest in children” and “minimise your offending” despite their guilty pleas.
Disturbing Messages Revealed Depraved Plans
Prosecutor Matthew Cobbe told the court that South Wales Police detectives spent weeks examining approximately 96,000 messages between the defendants, describing them as containing “extraordinary amounts” of content relating to “sexual depravity involving children.
The messages, exchanged over a two-year period, targeted two girls aged eight and one boy aged 12 when the discussions began, with evidence showing Compton expressed interest in children “aged one to six”.
“The first threads of messages suggested fantasy, they expressly talked about fantasy, but this developed into an obsession,” Mr Cobbe said, noting how their conversations demonstrated a “clear intent to arrange and commit sexual acts” with young children.
The court heard how the couple discussed attending music festivals and camping trips to target unattended children, with Turner suggesting “a family festival, not too expensive” to which Compton responded it was a “great idea”, adding he would prefer “a hippy one, where lots of drugs consumed leaving unattended girls”.
Hospital Worker’s Double Life Exposed
Turner, who had worked as a senior theatre assistant in the NHS for over 30 years without previous convictions, was dismissed from her position at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board on 12 March 2025 following her arrest.
When Compton questioned whether she was serious about their plans, Turner responded in one message: “I’m not f****** about, babe.”
The couple also discussed potential locations for attacks including a shed and a graveyard, with prosecutors revealing they had contemplated the “disposal” of a child if their assault led to a “fatal conclusion”, with Compton stating he would take full responsibility.
Defence barrister Nicola Powell told the court Turner had expressed remorse, quoting from a pre-sentence report: “I am very sorry and ashamed. I’ll never forgive myself for the rest of my life.”
Police Investigation Uncovers Web of Evidence
Senior Investigating Officer Detective Inspector David Butt from South Wales Police described the content reviewed during the 12-month investigation as “disturbing – the worst of the worst”, praising officers who “demonstrated resilience and determination to get justice”.
The investigation began when concerns were raised about Compton’s activity on a dating app in June 2025, leading to his arrest in December 2024. When police seized his phone, they discovered thousands of messages between him and Turner.
Officers also recovered weapons from Compton’s home including a sharp-ended baton, a knuckle duster and a concealed blade, whilst Turner was found to have hidden a mobile phone with a pub landlord following her partner’s arrest.
“Offenders like Turner and Compton believe they can hide behind phone screens, but this is clearly not the case,” Detective Inspector Butt stated, emphasising it was South Wales Police’s “absolute priority to protect children”.
Families Devastated by Couple’s Crimes
Victim impact statements read to the court revealed the profound effect on the children’s families, though thankfully the victims themselves had no knowledge of the planned attacks.
One mother described the revelations as “gut-wrenching and sickening”, stating: “I lost my appetite and was upset and sick all the time. The thought of what could have happened to our child by two people with monstrous sexual intent is unfathomable.”
She added that the family had “stopped walking to school altogether and didn’t know who we could trust”, explaining: “The decisions we make as parents are now different and lead to paranoia.”
The father of another intended victim called the defendants’ crimes “incomprehensible”, stating: “The pain Tracy Turner and Stuart Compton have put me and my family through is incomprehensible. I hope what they have done to me and my family stays with them for the rest of their lives.”
Medical Diagnosis and Drug Use Cited
Defence barrister Kevin Seal told the court that Compton had been diagnosed with compulsive sexualised behaviour disorder, which involves intense preoccupation with sexual fantasies and behaviours, though he stressed this provided “no form of defence”.
The court heard Compton had used a mixture of prescribed medication for his back alongside illegal drugs including cocaine and cannabis, as well as alcohol, whilst Turner was reportedly taking cocaine daily by the time of her arrest.
Evidence showed Compton had also discussed his fantasies with other individuals online, creating what prosecutors described as “depraved sexual stories involving children” whilst developing fictional personas in these conversations.
Health Board Responds to Scandal
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board confirmed Turner’s dismissal in March 2025, with a spokesperson stating: “The safety and wellbeing of our patients is our highest priority.”
The health board emphasised they had “fully cooperated with the police throughout the investigation” and sought to reassure patients that “the criminal case is entirely unconnected with the individual’s employment within Cardiff and Vale University Health Board”.
Turner had initially pleaded not guilty to additional charges including conspiracy to murder, conspiracy to rape and conspiracy to kidnap, which were ordered to lie on file following her guilty pleas to the arranging offences.
Sentencing Reflects Severity of Planned Crimes
In passing sentence, Judge Lloyd-Clarke told Compton he was “the driving force in the messages” and would remain in prison “unless and until the parole board considers it safe to release you”.
Both defendants must sign the sex offenders register for life and are barred from working with children and vulnerable groups. They must also inform police of any names or addresses they use.
Turner will be eligible for parole after serving two-thirds of her 12-year sentence, whilst Compton faces an indeterminate period of imprisonment with his minimum tariff set at seven years.
The judge emphasised that whilst no physical contact was made with any of the intended victims, the couple’s detailed planning and the volume of messages exchanged demonstrated their serious intent to carry out the attacks they had discussed “over and over again”.
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