A former Mayor of Pembroke has been jailed for 18 years this afternoon (Friday) for child sex offences.

David Boswell, known as Dai, had been found guilty of raping one girl and indecently assaulting another when they were both aged under 10.

Boswell, who stepped aside as Mayor after being arrested but remains a  member of Pembrokeshire County Council, was told he would be on licence and at risk of being recalled to jail until 2038 irrespective of when he was released.

Boswell, aged 58, of Bush Street in Pembroke Dock, had denied all the charges.

Swansea crown court heard today that one of his victims - now an adult woman - was still too afraid to visit Pembroke Dock in case she came across Boswell.

The other said in a victim impact statement that she still had nightmares about what Boswell had done to her and thought about it everyday.

She said she regretted not speaking up earlier and feared her silence may have put other children at risk.

Judge Keith Thomas made Boswell the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order banning him from having contact with children in the future.

His barrister, Jim Davis, said the former soldier was such a well known character in Pembrokeshire that the risk of that happening was virtually zero.

Following the case, a NSPCC Cymru spokesperson said: “This case has highlighted how victims of past abuse are burdened with the fear of their abuser into their adult life. Boswell’s public profile would only have heightened this for his victims. 

"But the bravery of the women subjected as children to Boswell's despicable crimes has helped put him behind bars where he cannot harm others. 

"It shows once again that survivors can come forward and achieve justice regardless of how much time has elapsed since the offences were carried out."