Ross Davidson, a former singer for Spandau Ballet, has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for multiple rapes and sexual assaults. The 38-year-old musician, who performed under the stage name Ross William Wild, was convicted across two trials of two counts of rape, an attempted rape, three sexual assaults, and two charges of voyeurism. The offences were committed against six women between August 2013 and December 2019.
Background and Conviction
Davidson, who also starred in the West End musical We Will Rock You, joined Spandau Ballet as lead singer in 2018. During his trial, he claimed all sexual encounters were consensual, but a jury found him guilty on all charges. At Wood Green Crown Court on Thursday, Judge John Dodd KC described Davidson's attitude as “adventurous to matters sexually” and stated that he treated the women, some of whom cared for or loved him, “without respect.”
Victim Testimonies
The judge noted that each of the six victims gave evidence “vividly and without exaggeration,” describing how Davidson abused their trust. In his first trial in July 2024, he was convicted of rape, two counts of sexual assault, and voyeurism involving four women. In a second trial last January, a jury convicted him of raping a woman in London in March 2015, and of the attempted rape and sexual assault of another woman in Thailand in December 2019.
Prosecution Evidence
Prosecutor Richard Hearnden revealed that Davidson filmed himself raping one woman. Some sexual assault charges were based on videos recovered from his phone, showing “strikingly similar” incidents where he touched sleeping women. Hearnden said the videos captured women “as vulnerable as can be,” in such deep sleep that they could not be disturbed. The victims only learned of the assaults when police informed them.
Sentencing and Victim Impact
Five of the women attended the sentencing hearing, three sitting quietly as the sentence was handed down. One victim stated, “Seeing Ross accountable is an important moment for me, and I hope it encourages others who have experienced something similar to feel able to speak up and seek support.” Another added, “Speaking out about sexual violence is not easy. It can feel overwhelming, frightening and at times isolating. However, I hope that by coming forward I have shown that it is possible to be heard and that what happened matters. I would encourage anyone who has experienced sexual violence to know that they are not alone, and that support is available.”
Defence and Personal Circumstances
Davidson, born in Aberdeen and living in Finchley, London, was represented by defence counsel Charlotte Newell KC. She argued that he suffered “crippling effects” of undiagnosed ADHD and was “self-medicating” with drugs and alcohol, which were “readily available” due to his musician lifestyle. She claimed he has since shown remorse and that his conditions are improving with a stable prison routine, medication, and family support.
Support Resources
Information and support for anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse is available from the following organisations. In the UK, Rape Crisis offers support on 0808 500 2222 in England and Wales, 0808 801 0302 in Scotland, or 0800 0246 991 in Northern Ireland. In the US, Rainn offers support on 800-656-4673. In Australia, support is available at 1800Respect (1800 737 732). Other international helplines can be found at ibiblio.org/rcip/internl.html.
