A former Spandau Ballet singer has been convicted of rape and sexual assault against three women. Ross Davidson, 36, who performed with the band between 2017 and 2019 under the stage name Ross Wild, was found guilty at Wood Green Crown Court on Thursday.
The court heard that Davidson, described as 'sadistic and manipulative', wanted intercourse up to six times a night and forced himself on women who refused him. He denied a series of sex offences dating from 2013 to 2023, telling the court: 'I have never raped, sexually assaulted or coerced any woman in my life.'
Davidson was convicted of raping one woman and sexually assaulting two others. Jurors acquitted him of one count of sexual assault against the woman he raped, but he was also found guilty of voyeurism. He was cleared of a charge of controlling and coercive behaviour relating to one victim. The verdicts were reached by majority after nearly 12 hours of deliberation.
The court was told Davidson had a secret desire to have sex with women while they slept and 'got a kick' out of filming the abuse. He described a 'sleep play' game where someone pretends to be asleep while being sexually stimulated, claiming it was consensual. Prosecutor Richard Hearnden called Davidson a 'bit of a sex symbol' with a 'darker side', noting that his charm and good looks often hid his sinister nature.
Davidson was arrested at his home in March 2021 and told police that everything was consensual and that he was 'unconventional in his sexual tastes'. He will be remanded in custody until sentencing on 6 September.
