CLEARED OF RAPE (From Barry And District News)

CLEARED OF RAPE

A BARRY teenager has spoken of six months of 'personal hell', after being accused of raping a deaf woman.

And since being cleared of the charge last week, Daryl Davies has vowed to get his life back on track.

The 18-year-old, from Cadoxton, was found not guilty of rape at Cardiff Crown Court last Friday.

He had been charged with raping a 43-year-old deaf woman whom he had met on a night out in October last year.

He said: "I want everyone to understand what I've been through."

Mr Davies explained how after splitting from his girlfriend, he went to Barry's Easy Bar, met the woman and - as he maintained in court - went to her flat for consensual sex.

He is now back with girlfriend Katie after she stood by him and the couple are now engaged.

Katie told the Barry & District News how she received verbal threats from people who knew the woman.

She said: "It was really stressful, but it has brought us closer and we appreciate each other more."

Katie, who does not want her full name published, said that she first heard the news of Mr Davies' arrest from others.

"All I was told was that he was guilty and that he was really nasty to the woman," she said.

"I didn't believe it because I know my boyfriend. I phoned the police station and all they told me was that he was in custody.

"I knew that he would never do anything like that. It didn't make sense and it didn't add up.

"It shows that nobody can come between us," she added.

After being let out on a tag with a curfew, Mr Davies, who turned 18 during the ordeal, said that he was unable to work because he had to be supervised in public by an adult approved by the court. As a result he lost his job as a sales representative.

He spoke of his relief when the verdict was read out: "The court case was not nice at all; it was up and down.

"But all 12 of the jurors said 'not guilty' in a really short time. When the verdict was returned I fell and the person standing next to me had to hold me up.

"I was overwhelmed with emotion and relief.

"On the day I really wanted to go out and celebrate, but I couldn't.

"Even my dad offered to take me to Bristol, but I didn't want to because I don't feel comfortable."

Mr Davies is angry that despite being cleared, nothing will happen to the woman who made the allegations - which he says cost the taxpayer thousands of pounds.

"It's unfair because nothing's been done to her," he said.

"After the court case there was nothing. All she did was walk away - but I have lost six months of my life.

Mr Davies now wants to warn men about the dangers of returning to strangers' flats after socialising.

He said: "I want people to be careful - and I also want some justice, something to be done.

"It wasn't just horrible for me, but she's ruining it for people who are victims of rape reporting it to the police."

Katie added: "We are going to try and get on with our lives, put the pieces back together and start again."