Jailed Caernarfon restaurateur ‘remained at liberty’ for years

Richard Tung, 42, of Penisarwaun, was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment at Nottingham Crown Court in April after being found guilty after trial of the following seven offences:

• Two counts of rape of a child.
• Two counts of sexual activity with a child.
• Two counts of causing/inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.
• Indecent assault.

Liz Saville Roberts, MP for Dwyfor Meirionnydd, said concerns have been raised to her that Tung was not remanded in custody prior to the conclusion of the case.

Tung was initially reported to police in 2022, and was then first interviewed in June 2023.

Speaking in the House of Commons on Monday (June 29), Mrs Saville Roberts said: “Concerns have been raised with me that Tung remained at liberty and free to work in a restaurant in my constituency until he was sentenced to 12 years in prison on April 17 this year - four years later.

“Will the minister advise me on how to find out why Tung was not remanded to custody prior to the court case?

“And given that this is a cross-border police force issue, what child protection and public safety measures should be put in place between Nottinghamshire Police and North Wales Police?”

Liz Saville Roberts MP (Image: Newsquest)

Mrs Saville Roberts was speaking at a debate in the Commons after an urgent question was put forward by Kieran Mullan, the shadow justice minister, about the “early release of rapists and child groomers”.

In response to her comments, Jake Richards, the parliamentary under-secretary of state for justice, said: “As the right honourable member knows, questions as to whether a defendant should be remanded are a matter for the judiciary.

“I am happy to look into the particulars of this cross-border issue and the matter of local protective agencies working together to keep the public safe, and will get back to her.”

Speaking after the debate, Mrs Saville Roberts told the Chronicle: "People will rightly expect that where serious allegations are made, robust safeguarding measures are in place to protect the public.

"We need to be confident that communication between forces is strong enough to identify and manage risks, especially where individuals move between areas.

"This case raises important questions about the sharing of risk information between police forces when individuals move across borders within the UK."

Mr Richards added during the debate: “Those who perpetrate heinous crimes must face the full force of the law.

“Under this government, convictions for child sex offences are at a record high. At the end of this Parliament, more criminals will be behind bars than ever before.

“However, this government inherited a prison system on the brink of collapse - at one point, fewer than 100 places were left in the whole estate.

“Without the Sentencing Act 2026, which received royal assent in January, the courts would be at risk of grinding to a halt, preventing sex offenders and others from being brought to justice. No space in prisons would mean no trials, no justice for victims and no punishment for offenders.

“Under our reforms, dangerous offenders will continue to be locked up for a long time. More than 18,000 offenders serving life or extended sentences will not be affected by changes to release points and will remain subject to Parole Board decisions.

“Offenders who are released will face strict licence conditions, closer probation supervision for the most dangerous offenders, exclusion zones, tagging, 24/7 tracking and curfews.

“This is the biggest expansion of tagging in history, ensuring that dangerous offenders are monitored and the public are protected. If risk in the community becomes unmanageable, those offenders can be recalled to prison.”

North Wales Police and Nottinghamshire Police were approached for comment.