NEIL BOWYER AND SUSAN DAVISON FROM WASHINGTON ESCAPE JUSTICE AFTER HORRIFIC CHILD SEX ATTACK IN WASHINGTON

In a deeply troubling case from Washington, a young child was subjected to a brutal sexual assault that left the victim with severe injuries and a sexually transmitted disease. The incident, which occurred in November 2010, has shocked the local community and raised serious concerns about the safety of children in the area.

According to reports, the young victim was examined by medical specialists under general anaesthetic due to the extent of the injuries and trauma sustained. One doctor involved in the examination described the situation as unprecedented, stating she had “never seen such a severe reaction” during the assessment of the terrified child. The injuries included genital trauma, and the child was diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease, highlighting the severity of the assault.

Despite the harrowing details of the case, no charges were brought against the suspects, Neil Bowyer, aged 56, who was identified as being of no fixed address, and Susan Davison, aged 29, residing in Don Gardens, Washington. The decision was made by the court due to a lack of sufficient evidence to proceed with prosecution. During the hearing at Newcastle Crown Court, Judge David Hodson expressed his distress over the case, describing the victim’s examination report as “the most distressing reading.”

Judge Hodson remarked that “evil jumps out of the pages” of the case and warned that the victim would likely suffer lifelong psychological consequences from the trauma inflicted. Bowyer pleaded guilty to charges related to child sex offences and animal pornography, resulting in a two-year prison sentence. Davison was sentenced to 12 months for crimes including child pornography offenses. Both individuals were ordered to register as sex offenders for ten years and were given lifelong sexual offences prevention orders.

In his sentencing remarks, Judge Hodson emphasized the gravity of the crimes, stating, “This does not begin to address the evil that we face here.” He expressed his concern that the sentences did not fully reflect the severity of the offences, describing the case as “deeply unsatisfactory” and highlighting the limitations imposed by evidential issues that prevented further charges against the suspects.

It was revealed that Davison, who was described as “infatuated” with Bowyer—whom she met while he was running a café during a holiday in Greece—had no prior convictions. Bowyer’s criminal history includes being dismissed from the army in 1973 for indecency and a conviction for assaulting a six-year-old girl in 1980. The judge made it clear that Bowyer posed a “real danger” to any child he might encounter and stated, “There is no doubt in my mind Bowyer you should be put in prison for a very long period of time.”

Following the court proceedings, members of the victim’s family expressed outrage at the sentences handed down. One family member voiced their dismay, saying, “We are appalled at the sentences. There should be another 10 years added on for each of them.” They further lamented the lasting impact on the child, stating, “Our child will never get over this and will be affected by it forever,” and questioned the justice system’s handling of the case, asking, “How can the person who did it walk away scot-free?”