SHAUN DAVIES FROM BROCKWORTH SENTENCED FOR CHILD RAPE AND ABDUCTION IN GLOUCESTERSHIRE

In September 2023, a disturbing case unfolded involving Shaun Davies, a 28-year-old man from the Gloucestershire village of Brockworth, who was convicted of grooming, abducting, and raping a young girl. The case highlighted the dangers of online grooming and the devastating consequences of such predatory behavior.

According to court proceedings, the relationship between Davies and the victim, who was only 14 at the time, began through conversations on the Xbox gaming platform. Davies, who was 26 when the interactions started, soon shifted the tone of their exchanges to sexual topics, despite being fully aware of her age. He made inappropriate comments about her losing her virginity, which marked the beginning of his grooming efforts.

Davies manipulated the girl emotionally by professing his love for her and falsely claiming that no one else cared for her. He encouraged her to run away with him, fostering a dangerous attachment. His grooming tactics culminated in a July 2021 incident when he drove to her home and forcibly took her away without her parents' consent, an act that constituted child abduction. During this abduction, the girl’s father was attempting to contact her via phone, warning Davies that police would be involved. Despite these warnings, Davies ignored the calls and later disposed of the phone to cover his tracks.

Following the abduction, Davies drove northward, seeking isolated locations where he then committed sexual assault. The court heard that he forcibly raped the girl in his car, ignoring her protests and her clear indication that she was not consenting. Prosecutor Ian Fenny emphasized that Davies disregarded her pleas and instructed her to keep silent about what had happened.

The police were alerted when the girl was reported missing. Authorities marked Davies’ vehicle with a tracking marker, which eventually led to its interception by officers from Greater Manchester Police in Stockport. Davies was promptly arrested, and the girl was safely returned to her home. The investigation was conducted by Gloucestershire Constabulary’s Child Abuse Investigation Team, which gathered sufficient evidence to charge Davies.

During the court hearing, the victim delivered a heartfelt personal statement. She recounted the traumatic night, describing every detail from Davies’ voice and scent to his physical contact and the moment he stopped the car. She expressed her confusion and pain, questioning why he did what he did despite her protests. Her statement also criticized Davies for waiting two years before admitting his actions, describing his delay as selfish.

Judge Ian Lawrie KC addressed the court, stating that Davies showed no remorse for his actions. The judge pointed out that Davies was aware of her age and deliberately exploited the significant age difference without regard for her well-being or the distress caused to her and her family. As a result, Davies was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison for the child rape and an additional 27 months for abduction, with both sentences to run concurrently. He will be required to serve at least two-thirds of his sentence before being eligible for release on license.

Furthermore, the judge imposed a lifelong Sexual Harm Prevention Order on Davies and mandated his registration on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life, ensuring ongoing monitoring and restrictions to protect the public from future offenses.