Former miner jailed for abuse
Sexual assault of girls 50 years ago
A FORMER miner who sexually abused young girls 50 years ago has finally been brought to justice – and police believe he may have more victims.
Paedophile David Allen Davies – who was known as Dai Love, Dai Trout or Dai Slick – sexually assaulted the two underage girls over the course of almost a decade from the late 1960s.
Swansea Crown Court heard the abuse had a “catastrophic effect” on the victims which has continued throughout their lives.
The offending began in the late 1960s when Davies worked at the Cynheidre colliery in the Gwendraeth Valley, Carmarthenshire.
The victims, who were not known to each other, were both under 13 at the time, with one just seven years old when the abuse started.
During their investigation into the events of the 1960 and 1970s, DyfedPowys Police learned Davies had a reputation in the area for propositioning young girls.
Officers are now urging anyone who was a victim of his behaviour to come forward.
John Hipkin, for the prosecution, told the court it was clear from impact statements from the two victims in the case that the abuse had “blighted” their lives both in childhood and adulthood.
Davies, of Maesyfelin, Pontyberem, was convicted following a trial of four counts of indecent assault and six counts of gross indecency with a child.
At a sentencing hearing on Thursday, Mr Hipkin said the offences Davies committed would nowadays carry “significantly” longer sentences than was the case at the time.
The indecent assault charges, under the law at the time and which applies to the sentencing, carried a maximum sentence of five years, but similar offences charged and sentenced under current legislation would carry a 14-year maximum term.
Ieuan Rees, for Davies, said the defendant was a man of failing health who, at the age of 70, faced custody for his first conviction. He said the impact of imprisonment on Davies would be “drastic”.
Judge Peter Heywood told Davies he had subjected the girls to “routine and regular sexual abuse” which had had a “catastrophic effect” on them both.
But he said despite the shocking scale and nature of the abuse Davies had to be sentenced in accordance with the law as it stood at the time of the offending as he jailed the defendant for six-and-a half years.
Davies will also be a registered sex offender for the rest of his life.
Speaking after the sentencing Dyfed-Powys Police detective constable Lee Davies, who led the investigation, thanked the victims for their bravery in coming forward. And he urged any other victims of the former miner to contact the police.
He said: “This has been a complex inquiry which has taken the investigating team across England and Wales.
“It was extremely painful for the victims to dredge up these memories and I want to thank them for their bravery in coming forward. I hope they can now begin to move on from this chapter in their lives.
“Sadly Davies has never accepted responsibility for the crimes he committed all those years ago. Now we know about his behaviour we believe there could be more victims out there.
“I urge anyone who has been affected by him to come forward. We have specialist police officers who will be there to support you.”
If you have been a victim of non-recent child sexual abuse, or abuse that is happening now, report it to Dyfed-Powys Police by calling 101 and ask to speak to an officer in confidence. You will be listened to and you will be taken seriously.