Child rapist was discharged from hospital
Aconvicted rapist described as being missing was actually discharged from hospital without the knowledge of police, it has been revealed.
A judge has blasted staff at Morriston Hospital and officers from South Wales Police for potentially putting paedophile David Hart’s victim at risk.
Hart was absent from Swansea Crown Court on Wednesday when he was convicted of a string of offences.
Judge Geraint Walters issued a warrant for the 60-year-old and police subsequently made an appeal for information regarding the defendant’s whereabouts.
Hart repeatedly raped his victim, starting when she was just 11 or 12 years old.
She alleged that he subjected her to years of traumatic abuse, and broadcast the abuse in internet chatrooms.
The defendant had been in court for the duration of the trial but the court was told that he was admitted to Morriston Hospital on Tuesday morning, when the jury was due to consider its verdict.
Following his conviction, Judge Walters rescinded Hart’s bail, which he said meant Hart was “effectively at large”.
On Wednesday it was feared that Hart has disappeared from Morriston Hospital, where he was being treated.
He was eventually arrested on Wednesday night and appeared in court yesterday, when it was revealed that the defendant had been declared missing.
Judge Walters said South Wales Police and the hospital could have “ended up with egg on their faces” after the apparent miscommunication.
The court heard that police officers had called the hospital at 12.20pm on Wednesday and spoke to an “unhelpful” sister who refused to give information due to patient confidentiality.
The judge said that while patient confidentiality should be observed, he was shocked by the fact they were not prepared to give more information in the circumstances.
Police continued to make phone calls, instead of attending the hospital, the court heard.
Judge Walters said he found it “troubling” that hospital staff were aware that police were interested in Hart and that more information was not presented.
“It’s hugely disappointing,” he said.
“I’m told at some point police did go to Morriston Hospital and were told the defendant had left.”
He told Inspector Gareth Hawkins, who was summoned before the court: “Without mincing words, things did not happen the way I expect them to happen.
“I know how these are strained times but we have the welfare considerations for the man in the dock and also the possible risk for the victim.
“I understand there has been considerable fallout from this. I understand he was discharged by the hospital and I would like to think police were called, and if not, why not?
“If something untoward happened to him or the victim there would have been an awful lot of egg on a lot of faces.”
Inspector Hawkins said a covert police operation was carried out on Wednesday night to catch the defendant.
He was later located at his home in Chemical Road, Morriston.
Judge Walters explained there were “legitimate reasons of concern” which had needed to be addressed in public. He added that lessons should be learned from the situation in future.
Hart will be sentenced at Swansea Crown Court this morning.