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Monday, August 18, 2008, 09:00
The 41-year-old (pictured right), who ran the Benkai-Do Club in Melin for five years until his arrest in February, is awaiting sentence for three counts of rape, 21 counts of indecent assault and five offences involving a serious sexual assault.
Despite his victims being girls as young as 10, club secretary Sian Loveday has spoken in defence of Gray, also known as David Cole.
She said: "David was a fully-qualified karate instructor when he first started up his club — he wanted to pass on his knowledge to others.
"I can honestly say no students were in any danger whatsoever."
But Rachel Roberts, from Neath, whose sons attended the club before Gray's arrest, disagrees and says she feels guilty for letting her children anywhere near him.
Mrs Roberts said: "I started becoming suspicious about the way he taught children.
"We were told by David that he was setting the club up primarily for disabled children.
"One of my sons suffers from ASD (autistic spectrum disorder) and so we took him there, but after one lesson David told him he couldn't work with him.
"We thought that was strange because even though my son's condition means he is quite hyperactive, we thought David was trained to deal with such disabilities.
"Knowing what I know now, I fear he was targeting disabled children on purpose, knowing they couldn't tell anyone what was happening to them. I know my son (then aged five) wouldn't be able to."
Mrs Roberts, aged 30, allowed her other son, then seven, to attend the karate classes, but soon changed her mind.
She said: "He wanted the boys to use nunchuks, and I didn't think that was appropriate for seven year olds.
"It seemed extremely dangerous to me. When we eventually took the boys to another karate club, the teacher there was horrified to learn what David Gray was doing.
"At the club, David was teaching the boys to fight together and I've since been told that boys should not be put into even the lightest combat until they are 14 or 15.
"My son learned absolutely nothing there, which I found out when I sent him to another club.
"In my opinion, he had no consideration for the safety of the students, and I honestly now believe that he only started up this club to fulfil his disgusting perversions."
Mrs Roberts also believes Gray used manipulation to gain the trust of children at the club.
She added: "Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but looking back now there are a number of things that looked suspicious — he was a liar, for one.
"My husband did karate in his youth and spoke to Gray about a local instructor who taught him. Gray said he had trained with this other karate teacher, but in future conversations Gray said he had never heard of the instructor.
"He also ran a tuck shop from the club that seemed strange.
"The kids would be rolling around in sweets. I certainly haven't seen sweets being given out in any other karate clubs, especially as it is a disciplined sport and encourages healthy living.
"My son would want to go to karate just for the sweets sometimes, it scares me thinking about it."
Many of Gray's offences date from the 1990s and relate to two girls from Yorkshire. Other offences from 2001 and 2002 involved a young Port Talbot girl.
"I am full of guilt that I entrusted my child to this thing as he can only be called, because he is not a man in my opinion," said Mrs Roberts.
"Although he didn't do anything to my boy, the thought that he had his dirty hands on them disgusts me.
"And, of course, when we found out I had to ask my son questions that no mother should have to ask a seven-year-old.
"Thankfully no harm came to my son or my friend's children who also went there. I'm only sorry the families of the children he did abuse can't say the same. I hope he gets all that's coming to him."
Gray is due to be sentenced on August 29.
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