A former Spandau Ballet singer has been convicted of rape and attempted rape following a trial at Wood Green Crown Court. Ross Davidson, 37, who performed under the stage name Ross Wild, was found guilty on Wednesday 28 January 2026 after jurors deliberated for over 11 hours.
Details of the Conviction
Davidson, of Finchley in north London, was found guilty of raping a woman in London in March 2015, and the attempted rape and sexual assault of another woman in Thailand in December 2019. He had pleaded not guilty to these charges, claiming all sexual encounters were consensual. However, jurors rejected his defence.
Prosecution's Case
Prosecutor Richard Hearnden described Davidson as someone who expected "sex on demand" and would resort to rape and sexual assault if denied. Hearnden noted that while Davidson was seen as a "charming and charismatic" sex symbol with musical talent, he had a "much darker side" that the victims did not initially notice.
Davidson, an Aberdeen-born musical theatre actor and aspiring songwriter, had starred in the West End musical We Will Rock You and performed as a singer for Spandau Ballet in 2018.
Victim Testimonies
The rape victim testified that Davidson attacked her while she was asleep in his bed, leaving her feeling "helpless" and "scared to react." She recalled that before the assault, Davidson mentioned liking the idea of sex with someone in a "helpless state." Jurors also heard that he put her in a sex collar and wrist cuffs without permission for about 20 minutes, which she said left her "confused" and in "a state of shock." Davidson dismissed these claims as an "out-and-out lie."
Incident in Thailand
The second woman, whom Davidson met on the Tinder dating app, described waking up in a Thailand hotel room to find him trying to have sex without her consent or a condom. She said Davidson remarked, "thanks for being cool about it," after she calmly talked him down. This followed a night of drunken consensual sex, after which she stayed with him, describing it as "regrettable but fair" before they spent the next day together on a beach and sightseeing.
Detectives discovered a video on Davidson's mobile phone showing him fondling the woman while she was asleep and "unresponsive" in the hotel room. She was unaware of the video's existence until police informed her in 2023. Davidson admitted to a voyeurism charge related to the video but denied sexual assault, stating he had permission to touch her but not to film, and called the creation "selfish" for sexual gratification.
Defence and Sentencing
Davidson described himself as "sex positive," emphasising open dialogue about sexual preferences. He claimed a whirlwind romance with the Thailand woman, involving consensual sex and discussions of "kinks and fantasies." However, the woman strongly denied giving permission for any touching while asleep, asking the jury, "Why would I want a man to touch me when I am in a state of unconsciousness?"
A further hearing is scheduled for 4 February at Wood Green Crown Court, where a sentencing date is expected to be set. Davidson now faces a potential jail term for his crimes.
