YATTON KEYNELL MAN DAVID WEBB CONVICTED OF SEXUAL ABUSE AGAINST BOY IN SWINDON

In a case that has shocked the community of Yatton Keynell, David Webb, a 68-year-old resident of Neeld Close, was found guilty of multiple serious sexual offences involving a young boy. The crimes, which spanned over a decade, involved Webb repeatedly abusing the boy, who was just ten years old when the abuse first began. Webb’s history of similar offences added a grave context to the case, as he has two previous convictions for sexual misconduct involving minors.

During the trial at Swindon Crown Court, Webb maintained his innocence, denying the allegations of systematic abuse. Despite his protests, the jury convicted him of several charges, including multiple counts of sexual assault of a child under 13, and causing a child to engage in sexual activity. He was also found guilty of encouraging the boy to watch sexual activity, although the charge related to viewing pornography was not upheld.

Webb showed no visible emotion as the verdicts were announced by the jury foreman. The courtroom was tense, and the atmosphere was heavy with the implications of the convictions. His wife, Rosemary Webb, aged 46, was present in the public gallery but reacted dramatically to the verdicts. She shouted, “Liars. They are all liars they are,” before storming out of the courtroom, slamming the door behind her. Her outburst continued in the public area, even as the court proceedings moved toward sentencing. Mrs. Webb was not present when the final guilty verdict was delivered, and the case was adjourned until November 9 for sentencing.

Throughout the trial, Webb maintained his innocence, denying the allegations and claiming he did not commit the offences. His defence argued for an immediate sentence, but the judge, Euan Ambrose, ordered a pre-sentence report to assess Webb’s dangerousness and the potential risk he posed to children in the future.

Details of Webb’s criminal history reveal a pattern of offending. In 1994, he was sentenced to two years at Winchester Crown Court after being convicted of molesting a ten-year-old boy. Five years later, in 1999, he received a four-year sentence at Southampton Crown Court for sexual offences involving a 16-year-old who was described as immature for his age. On both occasions, Webb pleaded guilty, and his wife provided evidence in his defence. However, subsequent admissions to the probation service confirmed his involvement in the offences.

Judge Ambrose emphasized the seriousness of Webb’s repeated offences, stating, “You have a long-standing tendency to commit offences against young boys: serious offences at that. This is the third time you have been convicted of such offences following a trial. You are somebody who can’t be trusted to behave himself in a law-abiding way.” The judge also highlighted the need to consider public protection, especially given Webb’s age and history. A custodial sentence is inevitable, and the court will determine the length of imprisonment after reviewing the pre-sentence report, which aims to evaluate the threat Webb poses to children in the future.