In 2019, the Offender Database reported that David Keene, then 61, of Draycott, Cam, Gloucestershire, was sentenced to 23 years in prison. Following a week-long trial at Gloucester Crown Court, a jury found Keene unanimously guilty on 17 counts, including several rapes of a child and numerous indecent assaults committed over a 27-year span.
The investigation established that Keene sexually abused five different girls between the 1970s and the 1990s. His predatory behaviour began when he was only 15, escalating from indecent acts to regular rapes by the time he was 20. Keene used threats and manipulation to enforce silence, telling one victim their ordeal was “our secret” and warning her not to cry. In court, Keene maintained a persistent denial, labelling the proceedings “outrageous.”
Systematic Abuse and Criminal Reach
Prosecutor James Haskell emphasised that Keene was a persistent offender who sought new victims whenever his current ones became unavailable or reached an age where they resisted. Evidence showed he targeted a new victim in the 1990s when she was only three or four years old. Despite his claims that he “never raped anybody,” the jury required less than five hours to convict him on all counts he faced.
Recorder Paul Dunkels QC described Keene as an “offender of particular concern,” noting that the five survivors had been profoundly affected by his actions. The court heard how he used locations such as ‘Uplands’ and a barn near Bisley, Stroud, to carry out his attacks. His defence included blaming the allegations on a disagreement regarding a stolen Kindle.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For his reprehensible crimes in Cam and Stroud, David Keene was handed:
- Custodial Sentence: 23 years in immediate custody.
- Extended Licence: A further one-year licence period for public protection.
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements were imposed for life.
- Parole Restriction: A requirement to serve at least two-thirds of the term, with release only possible if the Parole Board deemed him safe.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Keene is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by Gloucestershire Constabulary. His history of raping children and his long-term manipulation of victims mean he remains a high-priority case for the authorities.
As a lifetime member of the Sex Offenders Register, Keene must comply with strict notification requirements regarding his address. Authorities state that his “persistent” and “appalling” abuse over three decades remains a matter of serious public safety for the residents of Draycott and Cam. Any breach of his registration conditions or the terms of his extended licence will result in his immediate return to Gloucester Crown Court.
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