David Williams

A former teacher from Cornwall, David Williams, has been sentenced to 16 years in prison for a series of sexual offences against two young boys committed over a decade in the 1980s. Williams, who was 83 at the time of sentencing, appeared at Truro Crown Court after pleading guilty to multiple charges of indecent assault and gross indecency with a child. The abuses took place while he was a respected teacher at Budehaven School, now known as Bude Grammar School, where he exploited his position of trust to groom and assault his victims.

The offences began in the 1980s, with one victim as young as six years old when the abuse started. Williams, living on Widemouth Road in Bude, created an inviting environment at his home to lure the boys, offering games, piano playing, late nights, pancakes, and beach trips to collect pebbles. This grooming allowed the boys to stay overnight with their parents' approval, unaware of the predator in their midst. Once the children were in bed, Williams would sexually abuse them, often on hundreds of occasions over the years. The following mornings, he would attend St Michael’s Church, presenting a duplicitous facade as a pillar of the community, choir singer, and well-liked educator.

• The first victim described in his impact statement how the abuse normalised over time, leading to vulnerability, anger, suicidal thoughts, and strained relationships. He stated: “Nowhere is safe and there are triggers everywhere. I’m not even safe when I close my eyes and try to sleep and memories keep coming back and taunting me.” The abuse caused him to avoid school, faking illnesses to escape facing Williams, and resulted in two failed marriages due to his inability to form close bonds.
• The second survivor confronted Williams directly in court, recounting the grooming and abuse that spanned from primary school to 10 years later. He said: “I don’t know how many times you abused me. There were simply too many... You knew exactly what you were doing.” He highlighted Williams' manipulation, making him believe he initiated the sexual behaviour, and the stark contrast between Williams' public persona and private actions: “At church you were a friend and at home you were a paedophile.” Even after the physical abuse ended, Williams sent postcards and Christmas cards to the victim's parents until the pandemic.

Judge Simon Carr, addressing Williams, condemned his predatory behaviour: “You are a predatory paedophile who groomed young children over a prolonged period of time for your own sexual gratification... The abuse was systematic and sustained and went on for over a decade with abuse taking place on at least hundreds of occasions.” The judge dismissed references to Williams' good character as fraudulent, noting his indifference, evidenced by his reactions during the victim statements. Despite Williams' age and poor health, raised by his defence as mitigation, the court imposed a 16-year custodial sentence, of which he must serve two-thirds. Williams, who gestured goodbye to supporters as he left the dock, had hidden his crimes for decades until they finally caught up with him.

This case, reported by ITV News West Country on 28 November 2022, underscores the lasting devastation of historic sexual abuse, with one survivor emphasising: “There is nothing historic about historic sexual abuse.” The prosecuting context aligns with Devon and Cornwall Police jurisdiction, given the location in Cornwall.