UPDATED: Williams found guilty of rape and jailed for eight years (From This Is Cheshire)
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UPDATED: Williams found guilty of rape and jailed for eight years
3:33pm Friday 3rd February 2012 in News
TAXI driver Graham Williams has been convicted of rape.
He was convicted by a majority verdict at Warrington Crown Court this afternoon.
The 41-year-old, of Greenings Court, off Battersby Lane, was jailed for eight years.
He attacked the woman, who cannot be named, with learning difficulties in Sankey Valley Park in October.
Judge Nicholas Woodward said: "Her friend trusted you to take her home. "I have no doubt you decided because of her drunken condition, you were going to take advanatge of her."
The court heard during the four day trial that he had taken her to a popular dogging spot in the park to carry out the attack.
He attacked her in the back of his private hire taxi while at least one other person watched, the jury was told.
Speaking after court today, DI Debbie Dodd who heads up the dedicated rape Uunit for Cheshire Police that conducted the investigation said "The nature of this man's crimes cannot be underestimated.
"He viciously attacked his victim, preying on her vulnerability through drink and her medical condition.
"The victim will live with this for the rest of her life.
"My team conducted a painstaking investigation which was quickly identified and investigated as a disability hate crime, to bring Williams to justice.
"The catalogue of evidence presented to the court ensured the jury were fully aware of the full circumstances of events and the traumatic and violent attack upon Williams′ vulnerable victim."
She continued: "Rape and sexual assaults are amongst the most traumatic of crimes.
"We want victims to be assured that we are here to help.
"Anyone who has been subjected to this type of crime should feel confident that they will receive the support they need from the dedicated rape unit and other support agencies we work alongside.
"Foremost, any victim of a crime such as this will be treated with the dignity and respect they deserve, and any allegations will be thoroughly investigated and with the needs of the victim as our main priority."
Speaking after today′s conviction, Inspector Dave Griffiths who heads up Warrington West Neighbourhood Policing Team said "Graham Williams has today been found guilty of one of the most violent of crimes.
"With his job he held a position of trust and responsibility within our local community which he exploited in order to fuel his own sexual needs.
"The safety of our community is our priority and this dangerous individual will now face the consequences of his actions."
For a video on the crime, click here
Comments(17)
moleogod
says...
6:55pm Fri 3 Feb 12
the equaliser
says...
8:09pm Fri 3 Feb 12
aussie eddie
says...
8:34pm Fri 3 Feb 12
lucky88
says...
8:45pm Fri 3 Feb 12
the equaliser
says...
8:57pm Fri 3 Feb 12
lucky88 wrote:So you were called as a witness for the defence were you ? If so then your testimony must have been very poor (or discredited)or else why would they have convicted him ?
U don't know what evidence was given and the pappers make it worse than its sounds I don't belive at all he was guilty as I was thier so don't bother given u views if u don't know what went on
Point is - the COURTS have decided guilt based on all available sources of evidence and testimony and this system (despite misguided belief to the contrary) rarely gets it wrong.
the equaliser
says...
9:06pm Fri 3 Feb 12
aussie eddie wrote:I'm sure the vast majority of the public will see this chap as a 'bad apple' and hopefully not tar all taxi/minicab drivers with the same brush.
as a ex private hire driver in warrington i felt disgusted as something like that tarnishes all the drivers i believe he should be kept in indefinatly
Regarding the 'throw away the key' sentiment - unfortunately this will have undesired consequences as the sentences for rape and murder will be effectively the same - might mean more rape victims not living to report the crime if you know what I mean! Personally think 8 years would be acceptable if it was in conjunction with permanent chemical castration (ie. no urge = no further predatory threat).
lucky88
says...
9:14pm Fri 3 Feb 12
the equaliser
says...
9:30pm Fri 3 Feb 12
lucky88 wrote:Then enlighten us wise one!
U say what u want as I know is was not the guilty one with wat evidence was given
Were you there at the scene of the crime or not ?
Assuming that the jury heard ALL of the relevant evidence then I am inclined to trust the collective judgement of the 12 impartial jurors than your personal opinion.
Cleopatra
says...
10:25pm Fri 3 Feb 12
lucky88 wrote:Were you the one other person who watched lucky88? If so then you are as bad as him for not intervening.
U don't know what evidence was given and the pappers make it worse than its sounds I don't belive at all he was guilty as I was thier so don't bother given u views if u don't know what went on
U = You
pappers = papers
belive = believe
thier = there
Hummm, enough said!
the equaliser
says...
11:14pm Fri 3 Feb 12
kreecher
says...
6:35am Sat 4 Feb 12
If, as you appear to be insinuating, you were actually there and witnessed it, you are as much a bag of scum as the guilty man.
I honestly hope he gets a taste of what he did to this young woman in jail and that the prison officers don't keep his crime secret.
black cabby
says...
6:43am Sat 4 Feb 12
moleogod
says...
7:24am Sat 4 Feb 12
warrington cabbies dont worry you have not been tarred with the same brush
local man
says...
9:59am Sat 4 Feb 12
Shelly amber 888
says...
1:18pm Sat 4 Feb 12
black cabby
says...
1:24pm Mon 6 Feb 12
the equaliser says...
6:02pm Fri 3 Feb 12