Oldest criminal case in history as pensioner found guilty of 1949 sexual assault

 
24 October 2012
WEST END FINAL

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A pensioner has been found guilty of sexually assaulting four young girls.

Former serviceman Reginald Davies, 78, committed the attacks between 1949 and 1973, in what is believed to be the oldest criminal case in UK legal history.

The Welshman, who served with the Royal Engineers and the Royal Dragoons, was convicted of 13 offences, including rape of a girl under the age of 12.

Two of his victims broke down in tears as the verdict was read out at Kingston Crown Court in south west London.

Judge Susan Tapping told him he faced a "substantial sentence".

During the trial, prosecutor Hanna Llewellyn-Waters said Davies "preyed on the innocence" of the four girls, aged between nine and 16.

"You relied on their fear that they would not be believed and told them that they would be taken away from everything they loved," she added.

The former miner, who abused his victims in South Wales when he was aged between 15 and 39, moved to Australia in 1974.

He was confronted by two of his victims in 2008 while they were on holiday in the country. A third victim later came forward to police, who found the fourth woman after an investigation was launched.

Davies was arrested last July at his adopted home of Wanneroo on Australia's west coast and extradited in September last year.

He was found guilty of two charges of child rape, two charges of attempted rape, eight counts of indecent assault and one count of indecency with a child. He was cleared of one charge of child rape and one charge of attempted rape.

Judge Tapping said Davies - who was living in Hertfordshire with his wife during the trial - would have to sign the sex offenders register, and adjourned sentencing until Friday.

Mark Kimsey, defending, asked for his client to be bailed to allow him to "get his house in order".

But the judge replied: "In the circumstances, the defendant will be remanded in custody for sentencing on Friday morning."

Hilary Ryan, senior Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) lawyer, said after the hearing: "This is one of the oldest cases of historic sexual abuse and rape ever prosecuted by the CPS, dating back to 1949.

"I hope this conviction serves as an important message to people who have been the victim of crimes such as these that they should come forward regardless of when the offence occurred."

Detective Inspector Tessa Philpott, of Scotland Yard's Child Abuse Investigation Command, said: "When Reginald Davies emigrated to Australia in 1974, he thought that he had left behind not only the UK, but also the horrendous catalogue of abuse he committed against four small children.

"I would imagine he thought his past would never catch up with him, and he would never face justice, but, thanks to the bravery of his victims, his past did catch up with him, and today he faces justice.

"I hope that this will go some way towards helping his victims, whose lives have been blighted by him, to move forward in some small way.

"I also hope that his extradition from the other side of the world and conviction give other victims the confidence to come forward and report their experiences to the police."

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