A MAN allegedly raped a woman just “30 seconds’ walk from the police station” after they left a pub together, a court has heard.

Daniel Gravell, aged 43, denies three counts of rape said to have taken place over a 20-year period following nights out at venues and parties in Carmarthen.

During the trial at Swansea Crown Court, jurors heard evidence from the alleged victims, two of whom the prosecution claim were “hopelessly and helplessly” intoxicated at the time of the alleged assaults.

On Monday, the court heard from one woman who claimed Gravell raped her in an alleyway in 2005. She told the jury that after leaving the Rose and Crown pub, she and Gravell walked towards Carmarthen Athletic Club and entered an alleyway. She said Gravell grabbed her arm, and although she tried to escape, “he was stronger than me. I tried my best.”

The court was told Gravell began having sex with her while her back was pressed against a wall. The woman said she mouthed “help” to a passer-by and attempted to lift her head to be seen by someone in a window of the Athletic Club, but Gravell pushed her head back down.

Defence barrister Tom Crowther KC questioned why this “crucial piece of information” about a potential witness had only emerged last week, suggesting the detail had been invented. The alleged victim denied this, telling the court she could not remember exactly when she recalled it.

Another alleged offence dates back to 2002, when a second woman attended a friend’s party where Gravell made her two cocktails. After later visiting a venue in Carmarthen town centre, she felt unwell and returned to the house where the party had been. The court heard she was helped into bed by a friend but later woke to a “heavy sensation” and a “thrusting movement,” seeing Gravell “very close” in front of her. She said: “I said ‘get off’ twice. My hands didn’t work to push someone off. I was trying to push him off.” She claimed Gravell told her: “It’s OK, it’s [her ex-boyfriend’s name].”

The final allegation involves a third woman, who had been on a night out with her sister in February 2022. The court heard she visited bars in Carmarthen but could not remember anything after arriving at the second venue. She woke up alone in bed, feeling sick and unwell, and noticed a burning sensation. She later arranged to take the morning after pill. Prosecutor Matthew Cobbe told the jury that she found beer cans and white powder she did not recognise in her home.

When arrested, Gravell told police he had met the woman at the bar and that the sex had been consensual.

Gravell, of Porth Y Plas, Johnstown, denies all three counts of rape. The trial continues.

A SCHOOL girl has been jailed  for attempting to murder two teachers and a pupil at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman, Ammanford.

The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was sentenced on Monday (April 28) by Judge Paul Thomas sitting at  Swansea Crown Court. 

“What you did in school almost a year ago to the day, has caused a large number of people a great deal of harm and upset,” said Judge Thomas.

“It’s enormously affected many lives including your own.

“The simple fact is, you tried to kill three people.  You came to school that day planning to do that, as far as Mrs Elias was concerned.  You hated her.

“What you did, you did in full view of so many other pupils, at a time when there were a lot of people about.  And that wasn’t a coincidence

“You wanted as many of your fellow pupils as possible to see what you intended to do.  You picked the time and the place to attack her.

“I’ve watched you carefully as you’ve sat in court, and I’ve formed opinions.  I believe that what you did was, above all, for attention which perhaps you haven’t had from others in the past.  And I think you actually enjoyed the reaction and the publicity.”

Judge Thomas said that after being placed in a police van outside the school gates following her arrest, the defendant said  that this was ‘one way to become famous’.

“This was what you really thought and continue to think,” continued Judge Thomas.

“I don’t think you’re genuinely sorry for what you did and I don’t think you really care much about what others have suffered by what you did to them.

“I know your life hasn’t been a straightforward one by any means, and that you have a very complex personality.  But many children are in similar positions and they don’t behave how you did that day.  They don’t try to kill two teachers and a classmate.”

Judge Thomas said the defendant remains a potential risk to others at the secure unit where she has been detained since the offence, having made a serious threat to another.

Emergency services were called to the school on Wednesday, April 24, 2024,  following reports that three people had been injured. Two teachers – Fiona Elias and Liz Hopkin – along with a child, were admitted to hospital for treatment after being stabbed by the child.

Earlier that morning, CCTV cameras captured the girl, who was aged 13 at the time,  stabbing the hall floor with a knife. She was then seen speaking to Mrs Elias on two occasions – inside and outside the school building – before attacking her with a knife. When Mrs Hopkin stepped in to help, she was also injured.

A few minutes later, after being taken away from the two teachers, the girl was seen attacking a child with the same knife.

In her final summing up,  barrister Caroline Rees KC, described the defendant  as ‘a very complex young girl’.

“Her behaviour falls far beyond the ordinary,” she told the court.  “We are dealing with a very complicated girl.”

Caroline Rees said that a psychological report described the defendant’s childhood as being ‘considerably adverse’ and that throughout the court hearing, the child had sat in the dock with her head bowed, as she continued to draw.

“There’s clearly a lot of work to be done here, but the more time she spent with her psychologist, the more she appeared to engage,” said Caroline Rees.  “She is so young, but there is a real possibility for change.  And for the first time, she will have the means of doing that.”

The defendant was sentenced to 15 years in detention, half of which will be served in custody, the remaining on licence upon her release.

”This means that the rest of your childhood and early adulthood will be spent in custody,” concluded Judge Thomas.

Following today’s sentencing, Detective Chief Superintendent Ross Evans of Dyfed-Powys Police said: “While this sentence marks the end of the criminal justice proceedings, and a year since the incident occurred, I understand that for the victims the impact remains ongoing.

“All three suffered physical harm at the hands of the defendant and although wounds can heal with time, it will take considerably longer to recover from the mental trauma her actions caused.

“We have heard from the victim impact statements that they relive the events on April 24, 2024 daily, which evidences the profound impact it had on their wellbeing. As we now leave the legal proceedings behind us, I wish all the victims well in their recovery.

“For the students who unfortunately witnessed such an act of violence as they went about their day, I sincerely hope they are still able to view their school as a place of safety, and that today’s sentence shows that any attempt to compromise school safety will not be tolerated.

“Finally, I would like to thank all our emergency services colleagues who responded on the day, along with the teachers and staff at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman. Thanks also to Carmarthenshire County Council for the professional way in which they dealt with the incident and to the local community for the support they offered to pupils.”

A TEENAGE girl who attempted to murder two teachers and a pupil during a stabbing spree at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman in Ammanford is being sentenced today (April 28) at Swansea Crown Court.

The 14-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, took her father’s multi-tool to school and launched a frenzied attack during morning break on 24 April 2024.

Deputy head teacher Fiona Elias, teacher Liz Hopkin, and a female pupil were all seriously injured in the attack.

The defendant admitted possession of a bladed article and three counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent but denied attempted murder. A jury found her guilty on all counts earlier this year.

During the trial, the court heard how the girl approached Mrs Elias in the school yard, said “I’m going to f****** kill you,” and stabbed her in the arms. When Mrs Hopkin intervened, the teenager turned on her, stabbing her in the neck, back, legs, and arms. She then attacked a female pupil before being restrained by staff.

Terrified children witnessed the incident, and some later gave evidence. CCTV footage from the school captured the shocking events.

The teenager told the jury she had been bullied at school and said she often felt “anxious and scared”. She claimed she had no intention of hurting anyone, but the jury rejected her account.

Judge Paul Thomas KC told the court today that if the defendant had been an adult, she would have faced a sentence of between 20 and 30 years, with a starting point of 25 years. However, as the defendant is a child, different sentencing guidelines must be applied.

The court heard that the girl poses a “medium to high risk” to others and that she had been involved in a “very disturbing incident” while in accommodation awaiting sentence.

The judge said the future for the defendant was “uncertain” and noted that she presented a risk both in her current setting and potentially even more so outside of it.

Defence barrister Caroline Rees KC asked the court to consider the girl’s young age and “low” level of maturity, saying she still had “a great deal of growing up” to do before adulthood.

Judge Thomas confirmed that reporting restrictions preventing the identification of the teenager would remain in place.

Sentencing is ongoing.