DAVID WATTS FROM RAMSBURY SENTENCED TO 23 YEARS FOR CHILD RAPE AND HOSTAGE TERROR

In December 2020, a harrowing case unfolded involving David Watts, a man from Ramsbury, who was convicted of heinous crimes including child rape, false imprisonment, and making threats to kill. The severity of his actions and the terrifying ordeal he inflicted on a family led to a substantial prison sentence of 23 years.

Watts’s criminal conduct reached a chilling climax when he held a family hostage inside their home, wielding a knife and expressing a desire to go out in a “blaze of glory.” The incident took place in Ramsbury, where Watts’s actions caused widespread alarm and distress. The police response was swift and courageous, culminating in a dramatic confrontation that showcased the bravery of the officers involved.

At Bristol Crown Court, Judge Martin Picton described Watts as having been completely out of control during the incident. The judge emphasized the terror inflicted upon the victims, noting that police footage of the arrest vividly demonstrated the level of fear Watts generated. The victims, including a woman and her children, were trapped upstairs, barricaded together as Watts threatened them with a knife to her throat. The police had to use a Taser to subdue Watts, who was also injured during the struggle. The officers involved sustained serious injuries while attempting to apprehend him.

Prior to this violent episode, Watts had been found guilty of multiple serious charges, including child rape, false imprisonment, and making threats to kill. Despite this, he initially failed to attend his sentencing hearing at Bristol, and was absent from his trial, although he was deemed fit to stand trial. After a lengthy adjournment, Watts appeared via video link from HMP Bristol, where he continued to display defiance and hostility towards the justice system. During his brief appearance, he accused the legal process of being “sick,” claimed that psychological assessments had not been conducted on him, and alleged that his barrister had laughed at him. Dressed in an orange Slazenger polo shirt, Watts warned the court, “The high court’s got involved. Mark my words, this isn’t finished yet,” before abruptly leaving the video link.

The case against Watts was initiated after a disturbing incident in June 2020, when his young victim’s mother discovered him molesting her daughter late at night in a house in Ramsbury. The following morning, Watts threatened her with a knife and prevented her from calling the police. Subsequently, he held the woman and her children hostage in an upstairs room, declaring that they were now his “hostages” and expressing a desire to go out in a “blaze of glory.”

First responders on the scene included Special Constable David Turner, who attempted to gain entry by knocking on the door but received no response. As police officers tried to force their way in, a note was seen in the back garden, written by one of the children, pleading, “Just break in, he’s trying to stab us.” When the front door proved unyielding, officers smashed a window and forcibly entered the bedroom, where Watts was holding a knife to the woman’s throat. During the arrest, police had to use a Taser to subdue him.

Watts was questioned by police but claimed to have no memory of the incident, attributing his behavior to habitual binge drinking of vodka on weekends. Despite multiple court attempts to have him instruct legal representation, Watts remained absent from his trial. Judge Picton noted that he had previously written to Watts about the sentencing, but the defendant showed no remorse.

The court found Watts to be a dangerous offender, mandating that he serve at least two-thirds of his 23-year sentence behind bars. Additionally, Watts was subjected to a five-year extended licence period, required to register as a sex offender for life, and was subject to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order. The judge’s ruling reflects the gravity of Watts’s crimes and the threat he poses to society, especially considering the brutal nature of the hostage situation and the sexual offenses committed in Ramsbury.