A former cricket coach from Truro, David Taylor, has been sentenced to seven years in prison for sexually abusing multiple victims over a span of 30 years. His predatory actions, which targeted teenagers and women, caused immense harm to his victims and highlight the horrific impact of decades of abuse.
Abuse Spanning Over Three Decades
Taylor, 62, formerly of Upland Crescent in Truro and currently incarcerated at HM Prison Channings Wood in Devon, was found guilty of 10 charges of gross indecency and indecent assault committed between 1985 and 2015.
His latest conviction follows earlier trials in 2021 and 2023, which brought attention to his offenses and encouraged more victims to come forward. The court revealed that Taylor’s abuse of trust extended to multiple victims over several decades, with some of the earliest offenses committed at a family-run restaurant in Truro.
Details of His Crimes
The court heard shocking accounts of Taylor’s actions, including:
- Groping a victim at a funeral in front of others.
- Assaulting two teenage victims under the age of 15 at his family’s restaurant.
- Forcing a victim to touch him and performing a sexual act on her.
- Forcing his hand inside another victim’s jeans when she was just 13.
One victim, in a statement, said Taylor’s actions caused long-lasting emotional damage, breaking the trust she once had in him as a figure of authority.
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Judge’s Remarks
Judge Robert Linford condemned Taylor for showing no remorse and ignoring the damage he caused. The judge said:
“Your victims had to rebuild their lives while you carried on as if nothing happened. It’s clear you’ve learned nothing from previous encounters with the justice system.”
Previous Convictions and Trials
Taylor’s history of offending has been uncovered through multiple trials:
- 2021 Trial: Convicted of sexually assaulting a teenager and an adult woman but avoided jail. Media coverage led to new victims coming forward.
- 2023 Trial: Sentenced to 21 months in prison for sexually assaulting three women, exposing himself, and making inappropriate advances, often in public settings.
- 2024 Trial: Found guilty of 10 additional charges, resulting in his seven-year sentence.
Abuse in Cricket Coaching
Taylor exploited his role as a coach for local and county women’s cricket teams to target young players. Victims testified about his unwanted sexual advances:
- One victim described how Taylor kissed her neck and groped her in a crowded pavilion.
- Another was invited into his car under false pretenses, where he kissed and groped her.
- A third victim recalled being inappropriately touched during a team photo.
Players later agreed to ensure no one was left alone with Taylor, recognizing his repeated predatory behavior.
Impact on Victims
Taylor’s actions left a trail of trauma:
- A victim shared:“He stole my childhood. I can’t escape what he did, and it doesn’t feel like surviving.”
- Another said:“I refuse to be his victim, but he caused so much anxiety for me and my family.”
The First Trial of Truro
During the first trial in 2021, the court heard how Taylor told his first victim that he’shouldn’t really fancy her’ and, on another occasion, in 2006, sat next to her, put his arm around her, slid his hand in her underwear, and touched her bottom cheeks for about 30 seconds, making the victim feel ill.
Two years later, Taylor praised his victim’s appearance. A year later, when she was still underage, he approached her while she was waiting in a car with the windows down and kissed her on the lips.
According to prosecutor Simon Burns, the victim felt trapped and unable to flee. She did not feel able to report Taylor’s offence until 2018. Mr Burns said Taylor’s victim said she ‘can’t ever escape what he done’.
“I can’t ever escape that and it doesn’t feel like surviving to me,” he continued after reading her victim statement before continuing. He deprived me of a typical upbringing free from sexualization.
The third offense involved a second victim, an adult, whom Taylor sought during a social gathering. She hid in a toilet and sobbed as Taylor approached her for what she believed to be an embrace before sliding his fingers down her panties.
The woman told her husband, who disputed Taylor, who in turn denied any offending took place. “I refuse to be his victim,” she stated in her victim statement, adding that Taylor created “so much anxiety” to herself and her loved ones.