**Daniel Gravell on Trial in Swansea: Accused of Rape Over Two Decades**
The trial of Daniel Gravell, a 43-year-old man from Johnstown, Carmarthen, has commenced at Swansea Crown Court, where grave allegations of rape spanning twenty years have come to light. Gravell stands accused of raping three women after nights out, with incidents cited from as early as 2002 up until 2022. He has denied all three counts of rape.
Last week, the prosecution outlined their case in detail before the jury, presenting disturbing testimonies from the alleged victims. Two of the complainants were said to be “hopelessly and helplessly intoxicated” at the time the alleged offences took place, according to prosecuting counsel Matthew Cobbe. The prosecution asserts that Gravell took advantage of their vulnerable state, leading to non-consensual encounters.
The earliest alleged incident stretches back to 2002. In this episode, the complainant attended a friend’s party, where Gravell was said to have prepared her two cocktails. Seeking a night out, she later went to a venue in Carmarthen town centre, but started to feel unwell and returned to the house. Feeling sick, she received help from a friend and was placed in bed. The woman described being awoken suddenly by a “heavy sensation” as well as “thrusting movements”. She recalled seeing Gravell above her and feeling unable to move or push him away.
The complainant recounted in court how she struggled to speak and told Gravell to “get off” her twice. Despite this, she said her body would not respond and she was unable to physically resist. Gravell, it is claimed, tried to reassure her by invoking the name of her ex-boyfriend, telling her, “It’s OK, it’s [ex-boyfriend’s name].” The victim described a sense of powerlessness and confusion during the harrowing ordeal.
A second allegation concerns an incident in 2005, involving a different woman. During a night out with friends, the woman reportedly began speaking with Gravell outside a pub near a rugby club. According to the prosecution, Gravell then grabbed her by the arm, pulling her into a secluded spot. The jury heard claims that Gravell physically manoeuvred her so that she would not be visible through the club’s windows, before the alleged assault took place.
The most recent accusation is from February 2022, in which the third woman accuses Gravell of rape following a night out with her sister. The woman visited several bars in Carmarthen and says she remembers nothing after entering the second establishment. She testified that she awoke alone in her bed, feeling unwell and recalling she had been sick. Upon waking, she reported discomfort in her pelvic area and discovered a burning sensation. Subsequently, she arranged to take the morning-after pill. She also described finding beer cans and an unidentified white powder in her home, which she could not account for.
During his arrest, Daniel Gravell told police that he had met the woman at the bar and that any sexual activity between them was entirely consensual. He steadfastly maintains his innocence in relation to all the charges brought before him.
This case highlights important questions around consent, intoxication, and memory in the context of alleged sexual offences. Throughout the proceedings, the complexities of recollection under the influence and the investigative process of historic allegations have been brought sharply into focus.
Gravell, of Porth Y Plas, Johnstown, continues to deny all three charges of rape. The trial is ongoing at Swansea Crown Court, and the jury is expected to hear further evidence from both the prosecution and the defence in the days to come. As the trial progresses, the local community and broader public remain watchful, eager for clarity and justice.