**Survivor Waives Anonymity to Share Impact of School Party Rape and Pursue Justice**
Layla Sahami-Devon was just 19 when a house party in the quiet town of Carmarthen changed the course of her life forever. Now aged 42, she has chosen to waive her right to anonymity, courageously sharing her own experience of sexual assault to encourage others, and to detail the long journey to justice that has shaped much of her adult life.
The attack occurred in the early hours of a winter’s morning in 2002. Layla, who later found her calling as a psychotherapist, was assaulted by Daniel Gravell—a former upper-year pupil from her school who was known in their circles as a “joker”. In her words, “It was a violation of my human rights. When someone comes into a room to sexually assault you, to rape you, you have no physical power.” Nearly twenty-three years later, the aftermath of that night has continued to cast a shadow over her until, earlier this week, her attacker was finally jailed.
Gravell, now 43, was this week sentenced to nine years in prison at Swansea Crown Court after being found guilty of raping Layla. During the sentencing, Layla delivered a powerful impact statement from the witness stand, saying, “What he did to me is unforgivable and now is the time that he needs to take responsibility for his actions.” She went on to reflect on how much of her life had been controlled by shame and lingering trauma, describing years lost to the burden of a crime that was never hers to carry.
Recalling the events of that night, Layla remembers the vulnerability she felt. She had attended a friend’s birthday gathering, and at one point left for the local nightclub. Feeling suddenly unwell outside the club, her friends helped her back to the house and put her to bed—presuming she was simply unwell. However, at around 4:15am, she awoke to find Gravell in her room. Despite her pleas for him to stop, he assaulted her and then left.
In the immediate aftermath, Layla dealt with her pain privately, unable to tell even her family at first. “There’s a certain bond between a daughter and a father, and I would not have wanted him to know what happened to me,” she reflected, underlining how shame often, wrongly, silences victims of sexual violence. She admitted that the fear of others knowing, as much as the attack itself, forged her transformation from a carefree young woman into someone carrying deep, enduring hurt.
For years, Layla suppressed her experience, focusing on building a life and family. Yet reminders of the assault were never far away, given Carmarthen’s tight-knit community where paths often crossed, including with her attacker. The decision to report the crime did not come easily; it was only after hearing Gravell’s name mentioned in public years later that Layla decided she could no longer be silent. “I had to commit to exposing myself, not publicly at first, but to friends, family, work colleagues,” she said, recalling her initial conversation with police in 2022.
The legal process—which took nearly three years to reach trial—brought its own challenges. Layla described the emotional toll of sitting just feet away from her attacker in court, as well as the difficulty of enduring cross-examination. She credited Detective Sergeant Lee James for his unwavering support throughout, saying his compassion helped her persevere.
Layla’s decision to lift her anonymity is not only a display of courage but an act of advocacy. She has spoken out in the hope that others who have survived sexual assault will draw strength from her journey and consider seeking justice themselves. “We borrow and lend strength to one another,” she said, highlighting the importance of solidarity among survivors.
Reflecting on the verdict, Layla described no dramatic outburst—simply a sense of peace that the man who violated her had finally faced the consequences. “Justice has been done,” she said, though she emphasised that her experience will not define her character. Instead, Layla is determined to be known on her own terms: “I am still the bubbly, caring Layla that everybody knows me as. My fierce, authentic self hasn’t shifted.”
Her story serves as a testament to resilience and the enduring pursuit of justice—no matter how much time has passed. Layla’s message is clear: “It’s never too late to report a sexual crime,” urging other survivors not to carry shame that does not belong to them, and reminding the public that support and compassion can change lives.
If you have experienced sexual violence, there is support available through police or specialist organisations, and Layla’s hope is that sharing her story will encourage others along their own journey toward healing.