The victims of Daniel Davies, 38, bravely spoke about their experiences at the hands of their abuser, and how his actions had affected their lives
A “devious predator” caused severe psychological harm to three teenage girls after exposing himself and performing a sexual act in front of them. He sexually assaulted two of the girls by touching them on their bottoms and inside the rips on their jeans.
Daniel Davies, 38, of Hengoed, Caerphilly, exposed himself and masturbated in front of the young girls on a number of occasions and touched two of his victims in a sexual manner, despite their protestations. After he was reported to the police, he initially claimed the accusations were not true but he pleaded guilty to the charges against him on the first day of his trial.
A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Wednesday heard victim personal statements from all three of the teenagers who had been abused by Davies. For the latest court reports sign up to our crime newsletter.
In her statement read to the court by prosecutor Emma Harris, the first victim said: “The incidents have affected me greatly and in all areas of my life. It was in my final year of school and I was preparing for my GCSEs. My most favourite subject in school was textiles which I felt so positive about. Due to what I experienced at the hands of Daniel I lost all motivation in school, fell behind with work and stopped going to school.
“I felt overwhelmed and turned to alcohol which helped me to lose my worries and anxiety…. I spent many nights alone crying so much I made myself physically sick. I feel a sense of responsibility and anxiety and stress from thoughts of seeing him again.”
Reading out her own statement to the court, the second victim said: “I have always been a shy and quiet girl. I have never had much confidence and struggle to open up to people and this has made it difficult to talk about what happened with Daniel. He made me feel like I could not tell anyone and I wouldn’t be believed.
“He always made me think it was normal behaviour. What happened with Daniel has affected me in so many ways. I have trouble sleeping and each time I close my eyes I remember what happened and imagine him standing in my bedroom doorway.
“I turned to drink and drugs as it was the only thing that would make me forget it all. I have no other way to express what I was feeling, I cannot open to anyone, I felt I no longer belonged and turned to self harming to cope with my feelings.
“I struggle to be around older men, I went into myself and stopped having contact with those around me. I didn’t like being touched by anyone. It’s affected my schooling but I am now starting to rebuild my life and relationships after what happened. What Daniel did made me feel worthless.”
The third victim broke down into tears while reading her statement. She said: “The situation with Daniel has affected me in many ways. I have nightmares of Daniel touching me and chasing me in the car. The nightmares affected my sleep and I became scared of my own body and of people touching me.
“I was unable to take a bath, touch my own hair, I stopped eating and lost a lot of weight. I started to take drink and spent days not being able to get out of bed. I hardly went to school, I felt like I was uncounted.
“I got lost not knowing what to do or say. I worry about seeing Daniel in the community and it makes me feel anxious and scared.”
Davies, of Hill View, pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual assault and six counts of exposure. He is also to be dealt with for dangerous driving and driving whilst disqualified following an incident August 20 last year.
The court heard he has 14 previous convictions for offences related to dishonesty and driving. None of his convictions are related to sexual offences.
In mitigation, Abigail Jackson said her client had voluntarily surrendered himself into custody having been made aware by the police and said there had been “no touching of the victims’ genitalia”.
Sentencing, Judge Simon Mills said: “I have no idea whether you have any sense of shame for what you did to those three excellent young women. You have in each case spoiled their lives. You have pleaded guilty but you still told a probation officer you didn’t commit the offences.
“Whether you have got any shame for behaving in this predatory way, I have no idea. When I read your pre sentence report I can detect no remorse at all for what you did.”
Davies was sentenced to a total of eight years and four months imprisonment.
He was also made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, sex offender notification requirements and was disqualified from driving for three years and five months upon his release from prison.
A request for a custody photo of the defendant was made to Gwent Police but this was declined due to the “impact on the victim”.
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