A rapist from Carmarthen, Daniel Gravell, has been convicted of rape committed in 2002 and has confessed to voyeurism after a two-week trial at Swansea Crown Court.
Daniel Gravell was accused of raping a 19-year-old woman who was socialising with her friends in 2002.
The court was informed that the victim had been socialising with her friends in Carmarthen when she began to feel ill and requested to be carried home.
Upon awakening in a friend’s residence, she saw that Daniel Gravell was assaulting her, however she was physically incapacitated to repel him. She informed the court that when she uttered ‘get off me,’ he responded with ‘it’s ok, it’s ok’ and asserted that he was her lover.
After two decades of what she characterises as ‘experiencing shame,’ the victim courageously decided to disclose the occurrence to law enforcement, resulting in Daniel Gravell’s arrest on suspicion of rape.
Following six hours of deliberation, the jury at Swansea Crown Court convicted Daniel Gravell of rape, and he was remanded in custody for sentencing.
Daniel Gravell faced charges of voyeurism in a revenge porn case involving a woman he encountered online. Daniel Gravell had befriended the victim on Facebook, and after conversing for several weeks, they scheduled an in-person meeting. They engaged in consenting sexual activity; nevertheless, unbeknownst to the victim, Daniel Gravell captured photographs of her unclothed form.
Three days later, Dyfed-Powys Police got a tip indicating that Daniel Gravell had transmitted pornographic photographs via WhatsApp, accompanied by the name and address of the woman depicted. Authorities verified her identity, and the victim affirmed that the photographs depicted her. She affirmed that she had not given approval for the photographs to be taken, and that Daniel Gravell asserted he was unaware of how his phone operated when he inadvertently activated the camera flash.
Daniel Gravell was also tried for two other rape offences said to have taken place in 2005 and 2022. The jury did not reach a verdict on the 2005 incident, and he was found not guilty of the 2022 incident. A decision on whether he will face a re-trial will be made next week.
Dyfed-Powys Police Detective Sergeant Lee James, officer in case, said: “First of all, I would like to commend the victims in this case for their strength and bravery in coming forward to make these difficult reports, and for their cooperation during our investigation.
“We’ve heard about the devastating the impact of Daniel Gravell’s actions, and I hope that all affected by this case can now start to move forward with their lives.”
“As for Daniel Gravell, I wholeheartedly agree with the victim who described him as a predator. This is a man who clearly bears no regard for the impact his disgraceful behaviour would undoubtedly have.”
Detective Inspector Dale Thomas added: “Reporting rape and sexual offences can be incredibly difficult and distressing, and as we’ve seen here it can take a number of years for victims to open up about their experiences. I would like to reassure that we deal with all reports sensitively and compassionately, and that we will do all we can to pursue the offender.”
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