Crime

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

Published

1 year 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

Racial abuse suspect barricaded himself inside Johnston lodge

Published

8 hours ago

May 7, 2026

Tom Sinclair

ARMED police were called to a supported accommodation building in Johnston after a man allegedly barricaded himself inside a room while behaving aggressively and racially abusing staff.

Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed officers were called to Silverdale Lodge at around 8:55am on Saturday (May 2) following reports of disorder involving a resident.

According to police, the man allegedly acted aggressively towards staff members and made racially abusive comments before barricading himself inside a room at the property.

The force said armed officers were deployed to ensure the safety of staff, other occupants and the man himself.

A spokesperson for Dyfed-Powys Police said: “Dyfed-Powys Police was called to Silverdale Lodge in Johnston at approximately 8.55am on May 2 following a report of a male behaving in an aggressive manner and being racially abusive towards a member of staff.

“Officers attended the scene and the male had barricaded himself in a room.

“In order to ensure the safety of the male, staff members and other occupants of the building, armed officers attended the scene.

“The man was detained and arrested. There were no injuries to members of staff or officers reported. There is currently no ongoing threat to the public.”

Police confirmed Billy Pitman, aged 29, has been charged with racially aggravated public order offences, criminal damage and threats to cause criminal damage in connection with the incident.

Pitman was remanded into custody and appeared before Swansea Magistrates’ Court on Monday (May 4).

We will bring you the court result as we receive it.

Crime

Milford Haven woman denies causing suffering to cat

Published

8 hours ago

May 7, 2026

Rieve Nesbitt-Marr

Jury hears evidence over alleged failure to seek treatment for tumour

A MILFORD HAVEN woman has denied causing unnecessary suffering to her cat by allegedly failing to seek treatment for a cancerous tumour.

Maria Jane Hicks, 61, of Willow End, appeared before Swansea Crown Court accused of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, namely a cat called Max.

The prosecution alleges that between May 6 and May 17, 2023, Hicks failed to obtain veterinary treatment for a tumour on the cat’s nose, resulting in unnecessary suffering.

Hicks previously appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court, where she entered a not guilty plea and elected for trial at Crown Court. She repeated her plea when the case came before Swansea Crown Court.

The trial was heard on Tuesday (May 6).

During proceedings, Hicks was asked to retake the oath after the judge said it had not been given correctly the first time, reminding her to state “the whole truth and nothing but the absolute truth.”

The jury heard evidence from Ellie West, an animal rescue officer, who told the court she attended a welfare check after Max had been staying with one of Hicks’ neighbours, Mrs Jarvis.

West said the cat had dried blood around his nose and alleged Hicks had advised Mrs Jarvis to apply a homemade mixture containing frankincense, turmeric, coconut oil and myrrh.

Veterinary surgeon Jonathan Fitzmorris told the court Max had a body condition score of two out of nine and was approximately 10 per cent underweight. He said the cat was also suffering from severe dental disease, fleas, weeping eyes and an ulcerating wound to the nose.

Asked why he prescribed pain relief, Mr Fitzmorris said ulcerating wounds would be “extremely painful” and added that it should have been obvious veterinary treatment was required.

The court also heard from RSPCA inspector Gemma Cooper, who said the charity had offered to take over Max’s care, but Hicks declined. However, Cooper said Hicks agreed to allow the RSPCA to board the cat and pay for treatment.

While giving evidence, Hicks became emotional and accused Inspector Cooper of lying. She claimed Cooper had threatened to take Max away and have him put down.

Hicks told the jury she did believe in traditional veterinary treatment, but added that she felt “everything will happen in its own time.”

The trial continues.

Crime

Local carpenter retains driving licence despite previous ban

Published

2 days ago

May 6, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

A Herbrandston carpenter has been allowed to keep his driving licence despite a previous driving disqualification for using his mobile phone whilst driving.

Addressing District Judge Mark Layton at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court this week, Simon Shaw stressed the disqualification was having a major impact on his work commitment as well as his ability to support members of his family.

“If the ban continues, at least two of my five employees will have to be lost” said Shaw, who works as a self-employed carpenter operating from Herbrandston and the Milford Haven Industrial Estate.

“We travel throughout the whole of West Wales and also work at Thorne Island, where we’ve been providing logistical support for renovations for the last four years.”

Shaw, of Triplestone Close, Herbrandston, went on to say that his business has only one other driver who works as a reserve fire fighter.

“As a result, he’s not available to provide the 24 hour cover we provide to various care homes in the county,” he said.

Simon Shaw concluded by stating that his daughter is also dependent on his support having recently given birth to twins while his son-in-law and his partner’s mother are both currently undergoing serious healthcare treatments.

“I’m trying to provide as much logistical support for them as I can, but without my driving licence, this is impossible,” he said.

After listening to his comments, Judge Layton granted Shaw permission to retain his licence.