WORKSOP: Child rapist jailed for 14 years

Ian Wilson, 55, of Netherton Road, was sentenced today (Friday 12th July 2013) at Nottingham Crown Court.

Last month a jury found him guilty of three counts of raping two children under the age of 13.

He also admitted a string of offences of downloading indecent images of children.

The court heard how on three occasions in 2011 and 2012 Wilson raped two children, asking them to keep it a secret.

But the truth came out when one of them ‘blurted it out’ to their parents.

Recorder Christopher Donnellan said Wilson had taken advantage of the vulnerable youngsters.

“The abuse of these little children by you in this way was a gross breach of trust,” he said.

“The innocence of them at the time is something you took advantage of.”

“It is difficult to know when the victims are so young what the effects of such abuse will be as they go through their lives.”

The judge told the court that around the same time he raped the first child, Wilson was also searching the Internet for images of ‘teen and pre-teen’ children.

When he was arrested in June last year police seized his computer and found thousands of sick images and videos.

Many were of the most serious category, involving children as young as three.

Defending Wilson, barrister Errol Ballentyne said he was someone who had made a ‘fairly positive contribution to society’, having served in the army for 16 years until leaving in 1990.

“He served in Kosovo, Iran and Iraq among others. These were difficult areas and he left because he could not cope with the flash backs he was getting,” he said.

The court heard that Wilson had recently been diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder and was waiting to see a psychiatrist.

He was also taking medication for a heart condition.

Recorder Donnellan sentenced Wilson to a total of 14 years in prison.

He imposed 13 years for the three counts of rape, and another year for downloading indecent images.

The judge told him he would only serve seven years in custody, with the remaining sentence being completed on remand.

He was also slapped with a life-long sexual offences prevention order, banning him from having unsupervised contact with children and working with children.

Wilson waved to members of his family who were there to support him, as he was handcuffed and sent down.