DAVID BOSWELL OF PEMBROKE JAILED FOR CHILD RAPE AND INDECENT ASSAULT IN PEMBROKE DOCK
In a case that has sent shockwaves through the Pembroke community, former Pembroke mayor David Boswell has been sentenced to 18 years in prison after being convicted of heinous crimes involving a young girl.The incidents took place in the 1990s, and the conviction marks a significant moment in the ongoing fight against child abuse within the region.
David Boswell, who hails from Pembroke Dock, was found guilty of four counts of indecent assault and one count of rape following a detailed trial at Swansea Crown Court last month.
The court heard that Boswell, then a man in his late 50s, committed these acts against a young girl, with evidence also indicating he indecently assaulted another minor.
Despite the conviction on these charges, the jury acquitted him of three other counts of indecent assault related to the same victims.
The court was informed that the trauma inflicted by Boswell continues to haunt the victims, who remain frightened of him to this day.
One of the victims, in a statement read aloud during the proceedings, expressed her feelings of shame and damage, stating, “I feel like a freak.
I feel like I’m damaged for what he did to me.” David Boswell’s political career was briefly notable in Pembroke.
He was elected to represent Pembroke St Mary North in May 2017 and subsequently became the town’s mayor.
However, his tenure was short-lived; he stepped down from his mayoral role less than three months after his election amid police charges.
His political affiliation with the Conservative Party was also suspended following the allegations.
Judge Keith Thomas delivered a stern judgment, emphasizing the gravity of Boswell’s actions.
He described the crimes as a “gross abuse of trust,” highlighting the betrayal of the innocence of the young victims and the breach of public confidence in a person who was supposed to serve as a community leader.
Earlier in June 2018, Boswell’s conviction was confirmed after a jury at Swansea Crown Court found him guilty of raping a nine-year-old girl and indecently assaulting another young girl.
The court also considered an outstanding charge, which the jury was deliberating on at the time.
Boswell reacted with a gasp of “Oh Christ” as the first guilty verdict was announced, and he was immediately remanded into custody.
Later that day, he returned to court with his tie removed for safety reasons, to hear the jury convict him of the more serious charge of rape, along with additional indecent assault charges.
He was cleared of three other counts of indecent assault.
The jury’s deliberation lasted over nine hours, and while the verdict on the remaining charge was still pending, the foreman requested additional time.
Judge Keith Thomas granted this request, and Boswell was remanded overnight at Swansea prison.
The rape conviction was passed by a majority of ten to two, while the other verdicts were unanimous, reflecting the jury’s clear consensus on the severity of his crimes.
David Boswell’s political career, once marked by his election as a Conservative county councillor for Pembroke St Mary North in May 2017, has now been overshadowed by these grave allegations and convictions.
The case has left a lasting impact on the community, raising questions about trust, accountability, and the protection of vulnerable children in Pembroke and Pembroke Dock.
