**Daniel Gravell Rape Trial: Testimony from Late Friend Heard in Court**
The trial of Daniel Gravell, a former teacher accused of raping three women across a span of twenty years, continues at Swansea Crown Court. Gravell, who is 43 and from Carmarthen, stands accused of three separate counts of rape, corresponding to incidents alleged to have occurred in 2002, 2005, and 2022. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges, firmly denying any criminal conduct or admissions to the acts described.
On Thursday, the court heard evidence presented on behalf of the late Ieuan Davies, a long-time friend of the defendant. In a written statement composed before his death in February 2022, Mr Davies described an incident from February of that year, which took place after an evening watching rugby in Carmarthen. He recounted receiving a call from Gravell, who invited Davies and a female companion to join him and a woman at a house in the town with some alcohol.
According to the statement, Mr Davies arrived at the property with several cans of lager. After a brief period socialising, Gravell went upstairs. Later, Mr Davies went up himself, intending to use the toilet, but instead found the bedroom door partly open. Inside, he observed the complainant performing oral sex on Gravell, who was described as wearing only a top, while the woman was said to be completely naked. Davies stated that upon their noticing him, the woman quickly covered herself, and Davies yelled, “something like ‘go on Gravsy!’” before returning downstairs.
This incident forms part of the prosecution’s case against Gravell, who stands accused of multiple serious offences. The court heard explicit details about the various allegations, each involving different complainants at different times and locations. The prosecution contends that Gravell demonstrated a pattern of sexual misconduct, while he maintains that all sexual contact was consensual.
Under questioning from his defence counsel, Tom Crowther KC, and later from prosecuting barrister Matthew Cobbe, Gravell gave evidence regarding each of the three charges. He admitted to having sex with the first complainant in 2002, claiming it was widely known among their friends but insisted the term “rape” was never used until police intervention years later. When directly accused during cross-examination of bragging to friends about rape, Gravell strongly denied it, stating, “No, it wasn’t rape and I haven’t boasted about it once.”
Regarding the 2005 accusation, the complainant alleges she was raped by Gravell outside Carmarthen Athletic Club. Gravell told the court he only recognised her from the local area and approached her because he found her attractive. They apparently walked to the club together after crossing paths on Lammas Street. Gravell emphasised that if a complaint had been made at the time, CCTV evidence might have shed further light on those events.
The most recent incident under scrutiny occurred in February 2022, when another woman alleges Gravell raped her in her own home after a night out. Gravell, in his testimony, described their sexual interaction as wholly consensual, even suggesting the woman enjoyed the encounter. He explained that afterwards, wet clothing and bedding led him to sleep in another room, but claimed they later resumed consensual sexual activity.
Thursday’s proceedings also detailed how Mr Davies and his own companion left the property when they ran out of alcohol, returning upstairs briefly to say farewell. He described finding Gravell and the complainant lying together in bed at that point before he exited the premises.
It must be noted that Mr Davies’ account and the complainants’ allegations are vehemently disputed by Gravell, who continues to assert his innocence. As the trial progresses, further testimony and cross-examination are expected to shed more light on the complex and troubling events at the heart of the case.
The legal process remains ongoing, and the presumption of innocence stands until a verdict is reached. For many observers, the case serves as a reminder of the sensitive nature of sexual assault allegations and the vital importance of due process within the justice system.