BRISTOL MAN JAILED FOR RAPE COMMITTED OVER 20 YEARS AGO

A woman who endured a traumatic incident over 20 years ago has finally seen her attacker convicted and jailed. David Watson-Williams, aged 43 and residing in Stanfield Close, Lockleaze, was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court after being found guilty of raping a woman at a flat in St Pauls during the early 2000s. The case was swiftly resolved after a jury deliberated for just 45 minutes and unanimously convicted him, with the verdict delivered after two days of reviewing the evidence. Watson-Williams was taken into custody immediately on April 30 and received a sentence of 12 years in prison, along with an extended three-year licence. He will also remain on the sex offenders' register for life. The victim, who recognized the attacker from a police photo and statements, described the incident as devastating, noting that he ‘knew, without a doubt, that I had no romantic or sexual interest in him’ and that he ‘hatched, in cruel premeditation, a plan to take what he wanted, with no regard for the destruction he would leave in his wake.’ She detailed how she was acting in her own home, left her door unlocked, and was awoken by Watson-Williams during the assault. In her statement read to the court, she said: “What should have been a bright chapter in my life was shattered by a man who knew, without a doubt, that I had no romantic or sexual interest in him. Yet, he hatched, in cruel premeditation, a plan to take what he wanted, with no regard for the destruction he would leave in his wake, that man is you, David. You’re the man that raped me in my bed. The bed in which my childhood memories were scattered lovingly around me. The terror you inflicted forced me to leave my home, the place where I should have felt most secure. I had to take refuge from you. Now, single, and childless, while I cannot say you are solely responsible for these parts of my life, I know you have been a significant factor. Your actions have altered the course of my life in ways I am still trying to understand and untangle.” The police, led by PC Chris Quick from Avon and Somerset's Operation Bluestone Team, identified Watson-Williams as the suspect based on physical features and a 2000s police passport photo. PC Quick praised the victim’s bravery in coming forward and emphasized the importance of justice, stating: “The sentence reflects the seriousness of what happened to her. She was attacked in her own home, where she should be safe, and has been extremely courageous to come forward about the attack which left her feeling vulnerable and living in fear for years. Incidents such as this have a lasting and profound impact and we hope that both victims have had the justice they so rightly deserve. We hope this conviction sends out an important message – any acts of violence will never be tolerated, and every victim deserves to be heard and supported, no matter how long ago the attack took place.” She can seek further support through services like The Bridge or the 'This is not an Excuse' website.