DAVID TURNER SENTENCED IN CARDIFF FOR PREMEDITATED RAPE AND ASSAULT

A woman in Cardiff believed she was going to die after David Turner, 41, broke into her home and waited for her to return before launching a brutal attack. Turner, who was under the influence of cocaine and alcohol, forcibly assaulted his victim, raping her and causing severe injuries. During the incident, he fractured her cheekbone and strangled her, leaving her with lasting physical and emotional scars.

The attack occurred when Turner entered her house through a window and lay in wait. After she returned, he attacked her violently, resulting in injuries to her face due to being hit and choked. Turner refused to attend his sentencing hearing, and despite claiming the sex was consensual, a jury convicted him of rape and causing grievous bodily harm with intent after a trial at Cardiff Crown Court.

At the sentencing on Friday, a victim impact statement was read out, with the victim, who has lifelong anonymity, describing the profound effect the incident has had on her life. She said: "The incident has dramatically affected my life in many ways. The injuries have not healed; the bruises took six weeks to disappear, leaving me with a swollen and painful left eye and numbness on the side of my face. Even now, I still experience numbness on the left side."

She further expressed her mental health struggles, stating: "My self-esteem is extremely low, and I have contemplated suicide. I suffer from nightmares and flashbacks; my mental health has declined, and I am undergoing therapy. I have installed alarms, locks, security lights, and built a large fence for protection. He broke in and waited for me to come home before attacking me."

The victim also shared her ongoing fears, revealing she avoids places she has been to before, even though Turner is now in prison. She fears he may be released and come after her. Her daily life is dominated by anxiety and fear, and she explained: "He told me he was going to kill me that night and I truly believed I was going to die."

She added that the attack has severely impacted her ability to trust men and others in general. She is planning to move home since she no longer feels safe living where she is, stating: "I am nervous; everything feels more frightening. I’m too scared to walk my dogs even in familiar areas, which I used to enjoy. I struggle to go places in my car, and my life has changed completely."

The defence argued that Turner maintained the sex was consensual, though he did not deny that it occurred, and the judge noted this was the impression given during sentencing.

Judge David Wynn Morgan sentenced Turner to 12 years in prison, with a requirement that he serve two-thirds of this sentence before potential release on licence. Turner was also placed under a restraining order until further notice, acknowledging the serious harm caused and its impact on the victim’s ability to trust others, especially men.