Cardiff Man Jailed for Sexual Assaults on Passed-Out Woman

⚖️ A Cardiff man has been jailed for six and a half years after sexually assaulting a woman, leaving her with such severe trauma that she twice attended a bridge with the intention of taking her own life.

David Walsh, 41, of Treseder Way, Trowbridge, was convicted of two counts of assault by penetration and one count of sexual assault following a trial at Cardiff Crown Court. He had performed oral sex on his victim after she passed out from drinking alcohol and penetrated her with his fingers on two occasions.

Walsh denied the offences, claiming the victim had made up or “exaggerated” the allegations, but was disbelieved by a jury.

In a victim personal statement, the woman described how the assaults destroyed her life: “The impact on my family and I has been huge.” She revealed she had been studying for a degree for a decade but can no longer pursue her dream career.

“The financial implications have affected me massively, I am unable to hold a job down… I have been signed off from work due to anxiety. The incident has taken my independence away. Having my dream career taken away from me and not being able to work is heartbreaking,” she said.

She added: “I am regularly severely depressed, on two occasions I ended up on (a roundabout) and my husband had to call me off to stop me from jumping. It sickens me, I would never have been in this position before all because of what he did to me.

“I feel so angry… Standing on that bridge would never have happened if the defendant hadn’t assaulted me that night.

“I have lost all confidence in my life and body confidence. I suffer with shaking as if I have Parkinson’s. It happens when I’m watching TV at home and anxiety washes all over me… Some days I feel like I need to be cared for like a child… An independent person should not need other people to complete daily tasks…

“The only word I can use to describe this is excruciating. It sickens me down to my stomach (the defendant) thought what he had done was acceptable and for him to deny what he did while my life has been in turmoil really hurts.”

Walsh has three previous convictions including assault occasioning actual bodily harm, battery, and dangerous driving.

Judge Greg Bull said the offences were “pretty serious” with a number of “aggravating factors” when sentencing Walsh on Friday.

Walsh was also made subject to sex offender notification requirements indefinitely and a 20-year restraining order.