Locations
Treseder Way, Cardiff, CF5
Description
A woman attempted suicide twice, visiting a bridge with intent to end her life, after being sexually assaulted by David Walsh, 41, of Cardiff. She described her life in "turmoil" and feeling "sick to her stomach" when Walsh denied the offenses.
Walsh assaulted the victim by performing oral sex on her after she passed out from alcohol and penetrating her with his fingers on two occasions.
At Cardiff Crown Court on Friday, the victim reported the assault, leading to Walsh's arrest. He denied the claims, alleging she made up or "exaggerated" them. A jury convicted him of two counts of assault by penetration and one count of sexual assault.
In her victim personal statement, read by prosecutor Thomas Stanway, she said: "The impact on my family and I has been huge." A decade-long degree pursuit derailed, she can no longer chase her dream career, facing massive financial strain: "I am unable to hold a job down... I have been signed off from work due to anxiety. The incident has taken my independence away. Having my dream career taken away from me and not being able to work is heartbreaking."
She undergoes therapy but battles insomnia, flashbacks, severe depression, and shaking like Parkinson's: "I suffer with shaking as if I have Parkinson's. It happens when I'm watching TV at home and anxiety washes all over me... Some days I feel like I need to be cared for like a child." She added: "I am regularly severely depressed, on two occasions I ended up on (a roundabout) and my husband had to call me off to stop me from jumping... Standing on that bridge would never have happened if the defendant hadn't assaulted me that night... It sickens me down to my stomach (the defendant) thought what he had done was acceptable and for him to deny what he did while my life has been in turmoil really hurts."
Walsh has prior convictions for assault occasioning actual bodily harm, battery, and dangerous driving. In mitigation, Christopher Evans claimed no "severe psychological harm," noting Walsh's two children and support for his sister's family bills.
Judge Greg Bull deemed the offenses "pretty serious" with aggravating factors, sentencing Walsh to six years and six months in prison, indefinite sex offender registration, and a 20-year restraining order.