A depraved teacher who sexually abused a schoolgirl after plying her with drugs and alcohol has been jailed for 15 years.
Abuse at school and home
Gary Day-Davies, 55, taught at a school in Salford where he attacked the victim, both on school premises and at his home after inviting her for extra tuition, Greater Manchester Police said.
The abuse occurred in the 2000s when the survivor was a pupil at the school. Day-Davies invited her to his house for additional tuition, where he plied her with drugs and alcohol before sexually abusing her. He also abused her in the school library and a store cupboard in a classroom.
Denial and conviction
Day-Davies denied the offences throughout the investigation and at trial claimed the victim must have held a grudge against him. He was found guilty following a trial at Liverpool Crown Court of three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault by penetration, and one count of sexual assault by touching of a child.
Inspector Dave Ogden of GMP's Salford Criminal Investigation Department said: “Day-Davies took advantage of the young age of the survivor to invite her to his home and sexually abuse her. He further sexually abused the survivor in the library and store cupboard in a classroom.”
Victim's statement
The survivor bravely reported the abuse to police in 2022, leading to a thorough investigation. In a statement, she said: “Since receiving the news of the guilty verdicts, I feel like an enormous weight was lifted off my shoulders. The emotional trauma bond that I have endured for the last 20 years has finally severed. I can eventually breathe and think for myself without constant fear of the consequences. I finally have justice – this is justice not for me as a child but now as an adult too.”
She added: “As much as the outcome gives me some form of closure, I have not fully processed the full extent of this situation yet. I know I have a long road ahead of me in terms of recovery and I am very much looking forward to see what the future looks like for me.”
Police appeal
Inspector Ogden urged other victims to come forward: “Time is no barrier when it comes to being sexually abused – no matter how long ago it was, or how old you were at the time, we will listen to you. We will support you, investigate, and act robustly against perpetrators. We will take your allegations seriously and treat you with dignity and respect.”
Day-Davies, from Tyldesley, Wigan, was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
