Locations
Green Way, Brockworth, Gloucester, Gloucestershire, GL3
Description
A 28-year-old man who a court heard worked for Stroud District Council abducted and raped a young girl after grooming her on Xbox.
Shaun Davies pleaded guilty to abducting and raping a 14-year-old girl on July 27, 2021 and was jailed for seven-and-a-half years at Gloucester Crown Court on Tuesday (September 5).
Davies, of Greenway, Brockworth, travelled to Derby to commit the offences.
He initially denied the offences but changed his pleas to guilty after the victim gave evidence on the first day of his trial.
Jason Coulter, for the defence, said in court that Davies worked for Stroud District Council and that he had resigned last week.
However, speaking after the hearing, SDC said he was employed via an agency and did not work directly for the authority.
Prosecutor Ian Fenny said the grooming began over the Xbox when the conversation evolved and Davies, who was aged 26 at the time, turned to the girl, who he knew was aged 14, and told her it was about time she lost her virginity.
Mr Fenny said: “The victim felt she was getting closer to Davies and she felt he wanted to be with her.
“The girl’s family suspected that something was happening but when challenged she denied to her parents that anything untoward was occurring.
“On July 27, 2021, Davies arrived at the girl’s home and told her that they were going away for a time. He whisked her away without the parent’s permission.
"She believed she was travelling to Leeds to look at a plot of land.
“While they were travelling, the girl’s father was sending messages to his daughter, who was prevented by Davies from replying.
“Davies then took the phone off the girl and drove to two isolated spots in Derby to have sex with the girl.”
The court was told that after they had got back into the car, Davies was stopped by police in the Greater Manchester area after the alarm had been raised by the girl’s family.
The girl was returned to her family, whereupon she was subjected to a number of tests. Internal DNA evidence confirmed that Davies had raped the girl.
'The worst thing that ever happened to me' says victim
The teenage victim said in her statement: “I shall never forget the day Davies took me.
“He had his hand on my lap all the time we were travelling, he spoke to me in a particular way.
“When we had sex I don’t know why he didn’t stop when I said no.
“What he physically did to me hurt me greatly. That was the worst thing that ever happened to me.
“I was upset and angry as I hated the idea that I could have been made pregnant by Davies. I have not felt the same ever since.
“I’ve had difficulty sleeping.
"I’ve tried really hard not to think about what’s happened. I have suffered from nightmares ever since. This whole episode has made me feel lonely and sad.”
Jason Coulter, defending, said: “Davies wasn’t at the start of the trial process, as he was told he would lose his job if he didn’t attend that day.
“He was persuaded that pleading guilty, in light of the girl’s evidence, was the way forward.
“Davies left school with little in the way of qualifications and last week he resigned from his job at Stroud District Council.
“The pre-sentence report suggests that he has shown little remorse for his actions, but through me he wishes to apologise and express his remorse to his victim and her wider family."
'Carefully calculated process of grooming' says judge
In sentencing Davies to a prison term of seven-and-a-half years, Judge Ian Lawrie KC told him: “You embarked on a carefully contrived and calculated process of grooming.
“You took advantage of her youth and ignorance.
“It’s hard to understand why you did what you did, but there can be no excuses for your actions, which were based on lust and desire.
"You were reluctant to show any remorse, until your victim had given evidence at your trial, when you pleaded guilty.
“Your sexual activity and the abduction of this girl has come at a heavy price as you will not be eligible for parole until you’ve served at least two thirds of your sentence.”
The judge subjected Davies to a life-long sexual harm prevention order and sex offender registration and ordered him to pay a mandatory surcharge of £190.