MICHAEL DAVIES OF DEERHURST SENTENCED TO 13 YEARS FOR ABUSE OF TEENAGE GIRLS IN GLOUCESTERSHIRE

In a harrowing case that has shocked the community of Deerhurst and the wider Gloucestershire area, Michael Davies, a 61-year-old retired butcher from Gloucester Road, Deerhurst, was sentenced to a lengthy prison term of 13 years at Gloucester Crown Court for a series of heinous crimes spanning over two decades.

Davies was found guilty of grooming and sexually abusing three teenage girls, beginning in the 1970s and continuing into the 2000s. The court heard that Davies, who once operated a successful butcher’s shop on Hewlett Road in Cheltenham, used his position and kindness to manipulate his victims. He would shower them with gifts such as pizzas, burgers, and alcohol, gradually gaining their trust before exploiting their vulnerability.

The first victim, now an adult, testified that she was subjected to abuse during her childhood in the 1970s and 1980s. She described how Davies’s actions had left a lasting impact on her life, stating, “There is not a day goes by when I do not think of the effect he has had on my life. As a child I did not see that what he was doing to me was wrong. But it was wrong on every level. He did things he had no right to do. Since making my complaint I have been on an emotional roller coaster.”

The second victim, also a woman now, recounted her ongoing emotional struggles, including flashbacks and an emotional breakdown. She expressed her pain and anger, saying, “Shame on him. I was a vulnerable girl. He broke the rules and abused me. He took my innocence. I cannot take back those years but I can attempt to live my future knowing my silence is broken and I can now be true to myself. I hope he will understand the suffering and the pain he has caused in my life.”

The third victim’s statement, read aloud in court by prosecutor Rosemary Collins, revealed how Davies’s abuse had left her distrustful and emotionally scarred. She said, “He made me grow into a woman who is unable to trust anyone. I always think if someone is being nice it is because they want something from me. He took away my choice of whom my first sexual encounter would be with. By accepting his gifts I don’t think that gave him the right to take away my virginity.”

Davies’s legal team argued that his physical health and disabilities would make incarceration extremely difficult for him. His defense lawyer, Robert Duvall, stated that Davies now recognized the gravity of his actions and wished to withdraw any accusations of blackmail made by the victims, emphasizing that Davies was genuinely remorseful and accepted that the girls could not have consented due to their ages.

Prosecutor Rosemary Collins detailed how Davies’s grooming involved gradual seduction, with the offender exploiting the girls’ trust over many years. The final victim, who came forward in July of the previous year, initially contacted Davies seeking financial help. He paid her £900 but refused her request for a further £10,000 to settle a loan, accusing her of blackmail. This led her to report him to the police, which ultimately uncovered the earlier victims’ stories.

Judge Tabor, presiding over the case, condemned Davies’s actions as vile and beyond comprehension. He highlighted how Davies’s abuse had not only robbed the girls of their virginity but also shattered their trust and blighted their lives. The judge ordered Davies to register as a sex offender for life and imposed a sexual harm prevention order to prevent any future offenses.

In his sentencing remarks, Judge Tabor emphasized the manipulative nature of Davies’s conduct, noting that he used his generosity as a tool for grooming and exploitation. The court’s decision reflects the severity of the crimes committed and the lasting damage inflicted upon the victims, who now seek some measure of justice and closure after decades of suffering.