**Daniel Gravell Trial: Man Accused of Raping Three Women Testifies at Swansea Crown Court**
A high-profile trial resumed at Swansea Crown Court this week, as Daniel Gravell, 43, from Carmarthen, took the witness stand to answer allegations that he raped three different women across a period spanning two decades. Gravell, who continues to protest his innocence, faces three serious charges of rape, each connected to separate incidents in 2002, 2005, and 2022. The defendant has described the accusations against him as “laughable,” emphatically denying any wrongdoing during the alleged events.
During the sixth day of the trial, the jury heard detailed accounts from Gravell’s police interviews, which were conducted after the emergence of each allegation. The court was first told about an incident said to have taken place in January 2002. The complainant alleges she was raped by Gravell in a house in Carmarthen. In a police interview — some two decades after the alleged incident — Gravell insisted that the sexual encounter was entirely consensual. “At no point did she say she didn’t want to have sex. I don’t remember everything but I remember we slept together… She was drinking but she was coherent. We both had sex. It was consensual,” he explained under questioning.
The second charge centres on an incident outside Carmarthen Athletic Club in June 2005. According to the complainant, she was raped by Gravell near the club. Gravell, however, told police that he and the complainant were walking together, even holding hands, and that intercourse occurred with mutual consent. He has vehemently maintained that there was nothing untoward or non-consensual about their encounter.
The most recent allegation dates back to February 2022. The complainant claims Gravell raped her in her own home, following a night out in Carmarthen. Detailing the events to police, Gravell again denied any wrongdoing, stating, “Everything was totally consensual, which is why I’m absolutely shocked why I’m here. This is a complete waste of time. I have been pulled in here for nothing.” This latest incident, given its relative recency and proximity in time, has generated significant public interest and scrutiny around the case.
Throughout the proceedings, Gravell, who resides at Porth Y Plas, Johnstown, Carmarthen, has consistently maintained his innocence regarding all three accusations. In each instance, his defence hinges on the assertion that the sexual encounters were fully consensual at all times. Nonetheless, the trial has heard distressing testimony from the complainants, including details of alleged non-consensual acts and their immediate aftermath, with the Crown’s case emphasising the emotional and psychological impact of these experiences.
As Gravell took the stand to give evidence, the atmosphere in court was tense. Legal representatives closely examined the consistency of his statements and sought clarification on key details. The defence’s strategy focused on highlighting perceived discrepancies and the considerable time span between the alleged offences and the complainants choosing to come forward.
This trial comes at a time when historic sexual offences are increasingly finding their way into the justice system, reflecting a broader societal willingness to tackle allegations no matter how much time has passed. Observers note that such cases are often fraught with challenges, including faded memories, lost evidence, and the difficulties survivors may face when recounting traumatic events many years later.
As the trial continues, the eyes of the local community — and indeed, much of Wales — remain fixed on Swansea Crown Court. The outcome of the proceedings not only impacts the individuals directly involved but will contribute to ongoing conversations around sexual violence, reporting historic abuse, and the role of the justice system in responding to serious allegations from the past.
Daniel Gravell’s evidence and the statements given by all parties will remain under careful examination, as the court seeks to determine the truth behind accusations that have spanned over 20 years. The trial is set to resume with further cross-examination and closing arguments from both sides, as the jury prepares to weigh the complex and emotive evidence laid before them.