Rapist who stole girl’s childhood has jail term increased

Rotherham child sex offender Graham Wilson, who has just had his sentence increased.

Graham Wilson, aged 70, from Rotherham, was initially jailed for 11 years and six months for sex offences including the abuse of a young girl in the 1970s and 80s but will now face a 15 year prison term.

Solicitor General Oliver Heald QC referred the sentence for reconsideration at the Court of Appeal after claiming the sentence was ‘unduly lenient’.

Wilson admitted 24 charges of sexual offences against two young girls in October 2012, but fled to Northern Cyprus to avoid jail before he was due to be sentenced.

South Yorkshire Police issued a European Arrest Warrant and circulated that Wilson, formerly of West Bawtry Road, Rotherham, was a wanted man.

Speaking after the hearing Mr Heald said: “This was a sustained campaign of rape and serious sexual assault, over a long period of time from a man who deliberately preyed on a young girl and committed these dreadful acts.

“Victims need to feel safe to come forward and report sexual abuse. They must be reassured that what happened was not their fault and they need to be listened to.

“By increasing the sentence to 15 years, the court has today sent a clear message that anyone who violates children as seriously as this, and no matter how long ago will spend a long time in prison.”

He added that Wilson’s was “a dreadful case”, and that “over six years he stole a girl’s childhood in effect, through rape and serious sexual assault, on a very regular basis over a long period of time”.

He said: “It seems to me, looking at the sentencing guidelines, that this was worth far more than the original 11 years.”

Wilson appeared at Sheffield Crown Court in October 2012 for trial on an indictment containing 24 counts.

He entered guilty pleas to 23 of the 24 counts of rape and other serious sexual offences, including counts of indecency with a child and indecent assault, between 1978 and 1984. He also admitted indecently assaulting a 15-year-old girl in 1994.

At the time of his sentence, a spokesman for South Yorkshire Police said: “Wilson committed the most shocking and appalling crimes imaginable and attempted to evade justice by fleeing the country.”