14 years in jail for child sex fiend
A SEXUAL predator who groomed girls as young as 11 for sex
was today starting a 14-year jail sentence behind bars.
-
David Gray
Neath Karate Instructor David Gray had conducted a campaign
of abuse from which his three victims were unlikely ever to
recover, said the sentencing judge at Swansea Crown Court.
"You stole their innocence, their childhood, and you did so
in a calculating way," said Judge Michael Burr.
"The victim impact statements make the devastating
consequences of your behaviour only too clear."
The court has heard how Gray had sexually abused two young
girls in Wakefield, Yorkshire, where he ran a karate club in
the 1990s.
One girl had been abused from the age of 11 until she was
14.
He had a sexual relationship with another girl, which lasted
from when she was 13 until she reached the age of 18. That girl
had a child by him. He then moved to South Wales and engaged in
a sexual relationship with a girl aged 13 in 2001 and 2002.
The judge noted: "There is no doubt that for the best part
of 10 years you set out to groom for sexual purposes and then
abused three young girls from the very early age of 11 in the
case of one of them and 12 or 13 for the other two. And this
abuse continued throughout their formative years, when they
should have been free from any hint or possibility of this kind
of behaviour."
Having abused two girls during his time in Yorkshire, he
moved to South Wales and obtained a job as a learning support
assistant at a school in Port Talbot.
He selected his third victim in the school playground, noted
the judge.
"The abuse of all three girls over the whole period of your
activities involved sexual intercourse and a number of
additional perversions designed to serve your lust," Judge Burr
said to him.
"The campaign of abuse continued for years, almost on a
daily basis."
Gray, of Morgan's Road, Neath, admitted three counts of
rape, 22 counts of indecent assault and four offences involving
serious sexual assault.
At the time of his arrest in February of this year the
42-year-old was running his own private karate club in Melin,
Neath, known as the Ben-Kai-Do Club.
He has been held in custody on remand since his arrest, at
which time he was going by the name of David Cole.
Prosecutor Geraint Walters said a police investigation was
launched in February and officers spoke to a woman who said she
had been in a relationship with Gray in Yorkshire from the age
of 13 and in due course she had a child by him.
She said it had been a consensual relationship, but over
time she had realised he had taken advantage of her youth.
Another female who had been living in Yorkshire said she had
been abused by Gray for three years from the age of 11.
The prosecutor said Gray had subjected her to "systematic
daily sexual abuse".
The female said she was angry with him and was pleased the
police had approached her as she no longer feared her account
would be disbelieved. Police subsequently interviewed another
female who spoke of having formed a relationship with him while
a pupil at Sandfields Comprehensive School in Port Talbot where
Gray had secured a job as a learning support assistant in
September 2001.
She told police they had engaged in regular sexual activity,
on occasion having sexual relations seven or eight times a
day.
8 Comments
by David Chambrs, Barnsley
Tuesday, March 01 2011, 9:44PM
“i knew this man when i trained karate when i was younger as did my sister i,m lucky to say nothing happened but i was with my sister most times so that could have been a deternt 14 years not long enough he should have been shot”
by Izzy, Cumbria
Tuesday, September 09 2008, 10:17AM
“As a survivor of child hood abuse I am well aware of the long term effects of evil crime. 14 years is a drop in the ocean compared to the pain he has left his victims with. They have been given a life sentence, when will the punishment fit the crime.”
by Anon, Neath Port Talbot
Monday, September 01 2008, 11:53AM
“I am one of the victims of the rape. To get such a pathetic sentence is unbelievable. This has scarred me for life I am no longer able to trust men. Bring back the death penalty. This man has ruined my life.”
by jayne, swansea
Monday, September 01 2008, 9:01AM
“he has taken away three girls innocence. they'll go on suffering for the rest of their lives!! 14 years is such a small price to pay for such a malipulative act. these girls have suffered and will continue to suffer yet in 14yrs time (if all his sentence in served) he's free to do as he pleases once again.”
by wendy, neath/port talbot
Saturday, August 30 2008, 12:16PM
“i think it is disgusting what this man did to these young children, but please don't judge all karate instructors the same, my children go to an excellent karate club with a great instructor who all the kids respect. they travel and compete in many competitions around the country and abroad and i have no worries about them, as i know they are well looked after. if any of the karate students from this mans club are looking for a great new club they are welcome to come along to talbot karate club, purcell avenue, sandfields,port talbot on mondays & wednesdays from 6.00pm.under instructors mike mainwaring ( tubo ).
samantha jones, and nicola davies.”
by Jerry Lewis, Penllergaer
Saturday, August 30 2008, 10:23AM
“Abuse from which 3 people were "unlikely to ever recover" and only 14 years. Lets hope this very sick person does all his time.”
by Anon, Neath
Saturday, August 30 2008, 9:07AM
“This man is a vile monster, and this whole sorry case goes to show how pedophiles do not go around with a huge warning sign on their heads, but are charming plausible people who gain the trust of those around them. What this report doesn't show is that Gray can apply for parole in 7 years, and if not released then, will still only serve 3/4 of his sentence. I know this man, and am sure he will behave impeccably in prison, and will be back on our streets before the end of his sentence, while his victims will serve a life sentence. He was up on 39 charges, but his sentences for each one run concurrently. This acts as no deterrent for monsters like him. If he is going to rape one child then he just as well rape several, as the sentence will not change. This is WRONG. Let's not forget he set up a karate club in Neath, probably to start his evil grooming practice. Men like this are a danger to innocent children everywhere and should be castrated. They cannot be "cured". They will always be a danger to society. This man is evil beyond words.”
by kerry spencer, wakefield
Saturday, August 30 2008, 8:42AM
“i am a close friend of the victim in wakefield,this has been a very traumatic time,14years is a long time but not as long as the sentence my friend has got to serve, this monster has scarred her for life! referring to your story involving sian loveday i am amazed anyone can attempt to defend such acts. preditors like david groom and condition the child and thier families to gain trust, these acts are all premeditated. i am glad this has all come out and my friend can begin to heal, she is a strong woman and a good role model to other victims of such abuse! my love and support go to all the victims of this sick, calculated, poor excuse for a human being!! im pleased that the fact that david gray admitted to all of the offences is not reflected in his sentence! i hope while in jail he feels a little of the fear and hurt he has imposed on his victims!”