A 22-year-old Swansea man who filmed himself raping an unresponsive woman while carrying a machete has been handed an extended 13-year sentence.
Tristan Williams, of Alexandra Road in Swansea city centre and formerly of Upper King’s Head Road in Gendros, was found guilty of two counts of rape, one count of assault by beating and one count of voyeurism after he recorded a sexual act without the victim’s consent.
Williams pleaded not guilty to all charges, claiming the sexual activity had been consensual, but was convicted by a jury at Swansea Crown Court following a trial. The offences took place on 11 September 2025.
The court heard the victim only realised she had been sexually assaulted when she later became aware that a recording of the incident existed.
Prosecutor Hannah George told the court the complainant said in her evidence that nothing she had taken on the day could have caused the condition she was in when she was raped — but that the prosecution “cannot properly say how she came to be in that condition”.
Recorder Mark Powell KC said it was clear from the evidence that the victim had been “under some sort of influence of illicit substances” when Williams raped her, and said he had recorded the offending for his own pleasure.
The court heard Williams had a large machete tucked into the back of his trousers while carrying out the rapes. He explained its presence by saying he thought it made him “look cool”.
In an impact statement read to the court, the victim said she had been left suffering nightmares and struggling to sleep, and is now “scared of every noise and is constantly on edge” — feeling like a prisoner in her own home.
She said she could not stop thinking about the recording of her being raped, and that she feels she has “lost everything”.
Williams has two previous convictions for five offences, including driving while unfit through drugs and possession of amphetamine. He was subject to a 12-month community order imposed on 5 June 2025 — meaning he was in breach of it when he committed the new offences three months later.
Stephen Thomas, defending, said the jury’s verdicts meant any mitigation that could be put forward would be “extremely limited”. He told the court his client had been 21 at the time of the offending, with limited emotional maturity, but had matured significantly since.
Recorder Powell noted that Williams continued to deny his guilt in his pre-sentence report, and said he could see no sign of remorse. Based on everything he knew of the defendant and the circumstances of the offending, the recorder said he was satisfied Williams is a dangerous offender.
Williams was given an extended sentence of 13 years, made up of 10 years in custody followed by a three-year extended licence period. He must serve at least two-thirds of the custodial term before he can apply for release — and it will be for the Parole Board to decide whether he is safe to be freed.
He was also made subject of a restraining order protecting the victim, and must register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.
Detective Inspector Meirian Evans, of South Wales Police, described the case as a horrendous sexual attack carried out by a man with previous offences of great concern despite his young age.
“Tristan Williams is clearly a man who is very dangerous to women and was likely to offend again,” said DI Evans. “This sentence should be seen as a message both to those sexual predators of the severe consequences for their actions, and to the victims of sexual crime who will see the full weight of the law come down upon a perpetrator.”
DI Evans added: “We commend the victim on her bravery in coming forward and hope that this sentence is a key factor in helping her move on with her life.”
Williams is the second Swansea man in a matter of weeks to be handed an extended sentence as a dangerous offender for rape, after Dominik Szymanski was jailed for 16 years last month for attacking a vulnerable woman who later died.
Support for anyone affected by rape or sexual assault is available from Live Fear Free, the Welsh Government’s free 24-hour helpline, on 0808 80 10 800, or from Rape Crisis on 0808 500 2222.
