Crime

Man accused of raping three women said to have ‘absolute indifference to consent’

Published

11 months ago

May 1, 2025

Prosecution: ‘Three women, 20 years apart — this is not a conspiracy, it is a pattern’

A CARMARTHEN man accused of raping three women over the course of two decades showed “absolute indifference” to consent, a jury has heard at Swansea Crown Court.

Daniel Gravell, aged 43, of Porth Y Plas in Johnstown, is standing trial for three counts of rape relating to alleged incidents in 2002, 2005, and 2022. He denies all charges.

Gravell, a former teacher and one-time manager of a local wedding venue, faced closing arguments on Thursday (Apr 30) after a week of disturbing and detailed evidence. Prosecuting counsel Matthew Cobbe told jurors that Gravell’s behaviour demonstrated a long-standing pattern of targeting women who were intoxicated or otherwise vulnerable.

Mr Cobbe said: “He is calculating. He is manipulative. And over a span of 20 years, he has shown complete indifference to whether the women he has sex with actually consent.”

Allegations span two decades
The court heard that the first alleged rape occurred in 2002 after a night out. The complainant said she had been drinking at a friend’s house before heading into town, but recalled waking at around 4:15am with Gravell on top of her. She said she told him to stop, but he continued — falsely telling her, “It’s OK, it’s [her ex-boyfriend’s name].” The jury heard that she told a friend she had been raped moments later.

Gravell’s own friend, who gave evidence last week, said Gravell had described the encounter using the same phrase — “It’s OK, it’s [name]” — and appeared to be boasting about it at the time.

The second allegation dates to June 2005 and relates to an alleged rape outside Carmarthen Athletic Club. The woman said Gravell approached her outside a pub on Lammas Street, said he knew her father, and lured her away. She claimed he then raped her near the club. Gravell told the court that while he recognised her from the area, the sex was consensual and took place with her facing away from him.

Mr Cobbe challenged this, asking the jury: “Is it really impossible to have sex vertically against a wall, as he claims? Or is it just part of a story that doesn’t add up?”

‘Spiked’ on night of 2022 allegation
The most recent incident is alleged to have occurred in February 2022 after a night out in Carmarthen. The complainant told relatives the next day that she believed her drink had been spiked — she woke up covered in vomit with no memory of how she got home.

A neighbour told the court he saw Gravell arrive at the complainant’s home that night and bang loudly on the door before being let in. Later, Gravell’s friend, the late Ieuan Davies, described walking in on the woman giving Gravell oral sex and shouting, “Go on, Gravsy!” as a joke.

Davies said the woman immediately pulled a sheet over herself and later appeared to be having sex with Gravell upstairs.

Gravell told the court the sex was entirely consensual. “She was on top of me, enjoying it,” he said. He claimed they had sex twice that night — the second time after he returned to the room in the early hours.

A taxi driver who took Gravell and the woman home earlier that evening said the pair seemed drunk but friendly, and he assumed they were a couple. The driver recalled Gravell saying, “I’ll show you trouble later,” which he took as a sexual innuendo.

Defence: ‘This case began with gossip’
Defence barrister Tom Crowther KC urged the jury to remain sceptical, questioning the reliability of the women’s accounts and the possibility of cross-contamination over time.

“This case began with the 2016 trial,” said Mr Crowther, referring to a previous occasion on which Gravell was acquitted of rape. “Since then, the rumour mill in Carmarthen has never stopped turning. Gossip has turned into allegations.”

He told the jury that the third complainant did not want to report Gravell and that it was only after her aunt contacted police that the investigation began.

“She didn’t want him prosecuted. She didn’t say his name in her first interview. She was trying to hide who she’d been with — possibly because she regretted it, not because it was rape,” said Mr Crowther.

He also questioned the consistency of the three complaints. “How is it that two of the complainants, who deny ever knowing or speaking to each other, both referred to themselves as the ‘mother hen’ of their friend group?”

Mr Crowther said each complainant had “added last-minute details” to their statements over time and reminded jurors that there was no physical evidence to support any of the three rape allegations. He said the 2005 allegation was particularly implausible given its location next to a busy rugby club and police station.

In response, Mr Cobbe asked the jury: “If these women are lying, then it is one of the most elaborate conspiracies you are ever likely to see. But they didn’t know each other. They aren’t working together. What are the odds that three women, 20 years apart, would independently lie about the same man?”

Judge to sum up before deliberations
Judge Geraint Walters is due to sum up the case on Friday (May 2), before the jury retires to consider its verdicts.

Gravell remains on bail and denies all charges.

Crime

Milford Haven drug dealing pub boss who boasted of ‘best coke around’ jailed

Published

22 minutes ago

March 21, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Dealer who claimed £160,000 profits was later calling police for protection as threats escalated over money he owed to his suppliers

A MILFORD HAVEN drug dealer who bragged he had “the best coke out there” and claimed to have made up to £160,000 in just four months has been jailed for six years.

But behind the image of a confident, high-earning operator, the reality was starkly different — a man in debt, under threat, and repeatedly calling police for protection as his world closed in.

***Police at Marble Hall Road, Milford Haven in 2025, protecting Dan Booth from drug dealers who threatened to kill him*** (Pic : Herald)

The 35-year-old defendant admitted multiple offences relating to the supply of cocaine and cannabis when he appeared before Swansea Crown Court.

The court heard he played a significant role in the supply of Class A and Class B drugs, purchasing large quantities — including claims he was buying cocaine by the kilogram — and maintaining contact with upstream suppliers.

In messages shown to the court, he boasted about his profits, claiming to have made £38,000 and suggesting that far larger sums were within reach. He also claimed to have earned £160,000 in just four months and said he had bought two houses.

He told customers he had “the best coke out there” and responded aggressively to complaints, stating: “Out of £30,000 worth, you’re the only one to complain,” before adding: “Bad mouthing me is a bad idea you little slag.”

***The Vibe pub in Milford Haven is now closed following Dan Booth being jailed for six years***

Violence and intimidation

The court was also shown chilling footage of a confrontation at a property on the Mount Estate, where the defendant was heard directing violence over a debt.

In the video, he shouted: “I got boys, yeah, I got boys,” before telling others to “kick his head in” as the attack unfolded inside the victim’s home.

Witnesses described him as having become a “kingpin” in Milford Haven’s drug scene, operating from The Vibe public house, which they claimed was used as both a legitimate business front and a base linked to drug dealing.

Fear behind the façade

Yet the court heard that behind the bravado, the defendant was living in fear.

He had accumulated drug debts estimated at between £18,000 and £26,000 and was being threatened by those higher up the supply chain. His partner reported people turning up at their home, with threats including claims it would be bombed or burned down.

The Herald attended his home address on multiple occasions to report on police activity after he called officers for protection.

In a direct call to this newspaper during the period, he said: “There are threats to my life — people want me dead, dead. I don’t want this in the paper. It’s over money… hundreds of thousands of pounds.”

Documents reveal further pressure

The Herald can also reveal that the defendant was served with a statutory demand in late 2025 over an alleged unpaid debt relating to stock, fixtures and fittings following his takeover of The Vibe public house in March 2024.

Documents seen by this newspaper indicate the financial pressures he was under extended beyond drug debts.

National attention

The case has already drawn national interest, with Channel 4 making a documentary featuring the defendant after interviewing local people in Milford Haven over recent months.

‘Significant role’ in drug trade

Police arrested the defendant on January 5 last year on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs. A search of an address on Priory Road uncovered 18 grams of cannabis, while a separate incident involving a vehicle led to the discovery of 73 grams of cocaine and cannabis.

Prosecutors said he was actively involved in the supply of drugs and purchasing large quantities, describing him as a key player in the local trade.

He has 57 previous convictions, mostly for theft-related offences.

‘Only a custodial sentence’

Defending, Mr Ibrihim described his client’s background as a “tale of woe,” telling the court his father was addicted to heroin and his mother struggled with alcohol. His younger sister died in 2022.

The court heard he had gone “off the rails” in his late teens and that his drug dealing was linked to debts, including those connected to his father. It was also said that many of his claims about wealth were exaggerated and amounted to “bravado”.

Sentencing, the judge said: “The seriousness of this offending means that only an immediate custodial sentence is appropriate.

“You played a significant role in drug dealing. What is clear is that you were dealing with a lot of cocaine.

“I have no doubt that some of what you did was due to pressure, but some of it was for your own gain.”

The judge added that despite the defendant’s claims of wealth, “you haven’t got hardly anything left”.

For the supply of cocaine, he was sentenced to six years in prison, with a concurrent sentence of 30 months for supplying cannabis.

He will serve at least half the sentence in custody before being eligible for release.

A victim surcharge of £228 was also imposed.

Crime

New pilot offers dedicated advocates for trafficking survivors

Published

8 hours ago

March 21, 2026

Tom Sinclair

National scheme aims to support hundreds of victims of modern slavery across the UK

MORE than 600 adult survivors of modern slavery are set to receive dedicated support through a new national pilot scheme providing accredited, independent advocates.

The initiative will see specially trained professionals working directly alongside survivors of human trafficking and exploitation, helping them navigate complex legal, social, and recovery processes.

While survivors of crimes such as domestic and sexual abuse already have access to specialist advocacy, no equivalent provision previously existed for victims of modern slavery—despite the often severe and long-term trauma they experience.

Over the next three years, 24 Independent Modern Slavery Advocates (IMSAs) will be deployed across the UK. Each advocate will complete a postgraduate qualification and receive support from a central hub hosted by anti-trafficking charity Hope for Justice.

Tim Nelson, CEO at Hope for Justice, said the pilot aims to tackle inequalities in support: “We want to end the postcode lottery that adult survivors of modern slavery and human trafficking are experiencing in the UK.

“There are many organisations already doing incredible work, but by working together and setting new standards, we can give survivors the best possible chance of rebuilding their lives.”

The scheme is backed by a £1 million National Lottery grant and involves several organisations, including Unseen UK, Medaille Trust, Bawso, SOHTIS, Hope for Justice, and the Snowdrop Project.

Since the pilot began six months ago, advocates have already supported 121 survivors, helping to secure housing, legal recognition, and access to vital services.

Key outcomes so far include:

Ten survivors provided with safe and secure housing
Seventeen Home Office decisions successfully challenged, granting victims access to support
Humanitarian protection secured for a young adult survivor

Advocates have also helped individuals access healthcare, mental health support, education, employment, and secure immigration status.

One survivor described the support as “life changing” after escaping a trafficker. In a letter to her advocate, she said: “You have fought our corner tirelessly when I did not have the strength. You stood beside us every step of the way.

“You helped me rebuild trust, believe in myself, and slowly find my voice again.”

The IMSA role aligns with international guidance on independent advocacy and has been shaped by experts and those with lived experience.

Louise Mensah, Head of Frontline at Unseen, said: “This pilot is a step towards a world without slavery. We are proud to be part of something that will improve outcomes and change futures.”

Ben Ryan, Deputy CEO at Medaille Trust, added: “We know the value of long-term support in recovery. This partnership allows us to embed best practice and develop new approaches.”

Organisations wishing to join the final phase of the pilot have until May 2026 to apply.

Further information is available at www.hopeforjustice.org/imsa/

Crime

Four deny murder of Caerphilly teenager

Published

12 hours ago

March 21, 2026

Tom Sinclair

FOUR people have pleaded not guilty to the murder of a 17-year-old boy.

Ricardo Elliot, aged 27, Connor Palfrey, aged 24, Elexi Manny, aged 24, and Georgie Mears, aged 18, appeared before Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court on Friday (March 20), where each denied killing Tristan Shae Kerr.

Emergency services were called to a property in Abertridwr, Caerphilly, at around 5:45pm on Wednesday (Feb 5) following reports that a teenage boy had suffered serious injuries. Despite efforts, Tristan was pronounced dead at the scene.

The court heard that the teenager is alleged to have been attacked with a so-called “zombie knife” measuring approximately nine to ten inches in length.

During the hearing, the four defendants spoke only to confirm their personal details and enter their pleas.

A trial is due to begin on August 3 and is expected to last around six weeks. A further pre-trial review has been scheduled for July 24.

All four defendants were remanded in custody.

Paying tribute after his death, Tristan’s family described him as a “deeply loved son, grandson, nephew, cousin and friend.”

They said he was quick-witted, with a love for motorbikes and adventure, adding that he had a natural energy that lit up every room and drew people towards him.