DAVID WILLIAMS' OUTRAGEOUS HUMAN RIGHTS CLAIM FROM EXETER PRISON OVER LACK OF TOILET FACILITY

In a development that has sparked widespread controversy, David Williams, a convicted serial paedophile currently serving an indefinite life sentence at Exeter Prison, has initiated legal action claiming that his human rights have been violated due to the absence of a toilet in his prison cell.

Williams, who was convicted of heinous crimes including the rape of a teenage boy, argues that the conditions of his confinement are causing him significant physical and emotional distress. He has filed a writ in the High Court seeking thousands of pounds in damages, asserting that his treatment amounts to inhuman and degrading punishment under Article 3 of the Human Rights Act 1998.

The offender's legal move has been met with strong condemnation from victim support groups and political figures alike. A prominent national victims' support organization, Victims' Voice, expressed outrage at Williams' claim, emphasizing that the rights of victims are often overlooked in such legal proceedings. Ed Usher, a representative of the group, stated, "The human rights of the victim are never taken into account. These offenders have been put behind bars because they chose to commit the crime. Provided they are held in decent surroundings, it’s ridiculous they should make these sorts of claims for damages."

Meanwhile, Hugo Swire, the Member of Parliament for East Devon, voiced his disapproval publicly. He described Williams' legal action as “outrageous” and called for limited resources to be spent on what he termed a “mockery of the criminal justice system.” Swire further remarked, “Even entertaining the idea that someone who has perpetrated such an horrific crime can be compensated is just ridiculous.”

Williams was sentenced in June 2007 at Exeter Crown Court after being convicted of the rape of a teenage boy, an assault that occurred in March 1999. The court heard that Williams had a long history of offending, including a previous six-year imprisonment in the North East for seven counts of gross misconduct against four boys aged between four and eleven. His criminal record also includes convictions dating back to 1983 related to child abuse.

He was arrested in 2005 while attempting to leave a prison in the North East, where he had served time for his earlier crimes. His move from Devon to County Durham in 2002 marked a period during which he sexually abused four boys aged four to eleven. Following his latest conviction, Williams was ordered to remain in prison until he no longer posed a risk to children, and he was also disqualified from working with minors.

In his High Court claim, Williams alleges that the conditions of his confinement on D-wing at Exeter Prison violate his rights under the Human Rights Act. Specifically, he claims that the lack of proper sanitation, washing facilities, hot water, and drinking water in his cell constitutes degrading treatment. The writ states that he has been subjected to “degrading and humiliating treatment” by the prison authorities and seeks compensation of £2,500 per year for the period from November 8, 2006, to April 29, 2008.

Critics, including police officials such as Sgt Tim Colliver of Devon and Cornwall police, have condemned Williams’ actions and emphasized his dangerousness. Colliver remarked, “This man is a serious sex offender who has done nothing to address his offending.”

The Ministry of Justice responded to the allegations, asserting that Exeter Prison’s sanitary arrangements do not breach human rights legislation. A spokesperson stated, “Our position is that no prison’s sanitary arrangements breach human rights legislation,” reaffirming that the prison facilities meet legal standards despite Williams’ claims.