TOBIAS DAVIES FROM BILSTON AND EDINBURGH SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ASSAULTS AND THREATS

A man with a troubling history of violence and abuse, Tobias Davies, aged 34, has been sentenced to eight years in prison after being convicted of raping and threatening two women in Edinburgh and Midlothian. The High Court in Edinburgh heard how Davies committed these serious offences over a period stretching from December 2016 to May 2018, targeting victims whose identities are protected by law.

In addition to the sexual assaults, the court was informed that Davies had engaged in a campaign of intimidation against the women, sending them distressing and threatening messages over several months. These messages added to the trauma experienced by the victims, who eventually found the courage to report his actions to the police. The court was told that Davies’s behaviour was persistent, concerning, and alarming, reflecting a pattern of abusive conduct that posed a significant threat to public safety.

Judge Lord Boyd, presiding over the case, emphasized the gravity of Davies’s crimes and the importance of safeguarding the community. He stated that the sentence was necessary to protect the public and ensure justice for the victims. Davies, who is currently held at HMP Edinburgh, was informed that upon his release, he would be subject to a two-year period of supervision, designed to monitor his conduct and prevent further offences.

During the sentencing, Lord Boyd highlighted that in both instances of sexual assault, the element of consent was conspicuously absent, underscoring the abusive nature of Davies’s actions. The judge described his behaviour as persistent, concerning, and alarming, and stressed that the charges were serious. The court’s decision reflected a commitment to public safety and the protection of vulnerable individuals.

Davies’s conviction followed a trial at the High Court earlier this year, after which the court deferred sentencing to obtain relevant reports. The case also revealed a disturbing history of violence. Originally from the Midlands, Davies was 20 years old when he carried out a brutal attack on a 16-year-old boy named Shane Owoo in September 2007, in the Boswell Road area of Bilston, near Wolverhampton. The incident involved the victim being forced into a nearby water-filled clay pit, where he was prevented from escaping by two other attackers who beat him with sticks and stones until he drowned.

Initially charged with manslaughter, Davies pleaded guilty to assault and was sentenced to 12 months in prison. He was released on the same day after serving 13 months on remand. The two men who had forced Shane into the water, Christopher Lewis and Marvin Walker, received sentences of five and a half years after pleading guilty to manslaughter, with prosecutors describing them as vigilantes who took the law into their own hands.

During the court proceedings, defence solicitor advocate Krista Johnston explained that Davies suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, which developed after he was assaulted in 2017. She also highlighted his troubled upbringing, describing a childhood marked by a lack of positive role models and numerous challenges that forced him to mature quickly.

Judge Lord Boyd, however, made it clear that the seriousness of Davies’s recent offences left no alternative but to impose a custodial sentence. Detective Inspector Steven McMillan of the Public Protection Unit expressed satisfaction with the outcome, praising the bravery of the victims and emphasizing the police’s commitment to investigating and prosecuting sexual crimes. He urged victims to come forward and assured the public that police Scotland would continue to take a firm stance against abuse, providing support and ensuring offenders are held accountable.