Daniel Gravell, a former teacher, will not face a second retrial over an allegation that he raped a woman in 2005. The prosecution said it would be offering no evidence against him on that count.
Prosecution drops case
Gravell faced a retrial last month over the allegation that he raped a teenager outside the Carmarthen Athletic RFC clubhouse in Carmarthen town centre in 2005. Neither the first jury last year nor the jury in September were able to reach a verdict on the allegation.
At trial, the defendant had insisted that the sexual encounter behind the clubhouse was consensual.
Court decision
During a brief hearing at Swansea Crown Court on Monday, barrister Owen Williams said that after a review of the case, the prosecution would not be seeking another retrial. He said a third trial would have been an "exceptional course" to take and the criteria had not been met. The barrister said the prosecution would therefore be offering no evidence against the 45-year-old defendant in regard to that count.
Judge Geraint Walters said given the position of the prosecution, he would return a formal not guilty verdict in relation to the allegation.
Upcoming retrial on another allegation
A trial date of August 16 next year was set for Gravell's retrial in regard to allegations that he raped a woman in a room at the Baltic Hotel in Pontyates in 2021. The jury in September's trial had also been unable to reach a verdict on that count. The defendant has previously denied the 2021 allegation, saying the sexual encounter in the hotel room was consensual.
