The trial of Daniel Lewis, a 44-year-old from Woodfield, Wantage, continued this week at Oxford Crown Court, where he faces six charges of child assault and two charges of child ill-treatment. The allegations include physical harm such as smothering, pushing, knuckling, slapping, and strangling, along with accusations of self-harming in the presence of the child. Lewis has denied all charges and maintains his innocence.
Boy Details Disturbing Encounters
Testifying in court, the alleged victim described Lewis as “the most manipulative, horrible person ever,” adding that he was “just nasty,” “cruel,” and “clever and manipulative.” The boy recounted fearing for his life during one particularly distressing incident when he believed Lewis might strike him with a belt.
“I was so scared,” the boy stated. “I thought I was going to die. He was so unpredictable… I’ve never seen him that angry. I shouldn’t have been treated like that, I was a boy.”
Boy Put on the Hot Seat
During cross-examination, the defense questioned the boy’s testimony, including an incident where Lewis allegedly forced him to sit in a dark cupboard. When confronted with the assertion that such an act was unlikely given the cupboard size, the boy replied, “I did… on numerous occasions. He made me sit on the hoover under the stairs.”
Another claim involved the boy being forced to eat soap, allegedly as punishment for swearing. While the defense suggested this might have been a verbal deterrent, the boy was adamant: “No, I definitely remember taking a bite out of soap on one occasion. He was constantly provoking me.”
A Question of Veracity
A pivotal matter in the proceedings is the credibility of the boy’s testimony. When asked if he was perhaps seeking attention, the boy firmly denied the suggestion.
The trial remains ongoing and continues to draw significant interest both locally and nationally as observers await further developments.
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