Febuary 2011

Convicted St Albans paedophile is sentenced for further crimes

A CONVICTED paedophile has been sentenced for two further sexual offences which came to light following media coverage of his original court case.

Colin Wray, 61, of Gorham Drive, St Albans, is currently serving a four-year sentence after admitting a history of sexual abuse on children between 1978 and 1987 at a previous hearing in 2009.

After his original sentence was handed down, the Herts Advertiser and its sister paper the Welwyn Hatfield Times carried the story of one of his victims after she waived her right to anonymity to encourage others who may have suffered similar abuse to speak out.

Two other victims did come forward and Wray pleaded guilty to two further sexual offences with children yesterday (Wednesday).

The first charge was for gross indecency on a 10-year-old child in 1984 at a bed and breakfast in Great Yarmouth and the second crime of indecent assault took place between 1974 and 1977 at an unknown location on a child between the age of eight and 11.

Judge John Plumstead sentenced him to 15 months imprisonment for both crimes to run concurrently with his existing jail sentence, half of which will have been served by December this year meaning he can be released on licence.

Wray will therefore not serve any additional time in custody or on licence despite the further convictions.

Detective Constable Becky Crudgington said: “We are really pleased that these two victims found the courage to come forward as a result of reading media coverage of the earlier case against him. We hope they will now be able to put this behind them and move on with their lives. We would like to thank the media for the coverage of the original case.”

December 2009

Bed-bound paedophile jailed

A DISABLED paedophile – carried into court on a stretcher – was jailed today after subjecting a child to years of sexual abuse more than two decades ago.

Bed-bound Colin Wray, who suffers from osteoarthritis, was this morning delivered to St Albans Crown Court by ambulance for sentencing having pleaded guilty to a string of sex assaults on a child between 1980 and 1986.

The defendant, who lives with his 89-year-old mother and sister in Gorham Drive, St Albans, indecently assaulted the victim, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, over a period of six years. The abuse began when the girl was eight and continued until she reached the age of 14. The 60-year-old committed the offences while the girl was under his supervision, with Wray often threatening his victim not to tell anyone or rewarding her with sweets, money and alcohol.

Wray’s crimes came to light 13 years ago, but it was not until last year that the victim revealed her past experiences to police.

In police interviews following his arrest in May 2008, Wray insisted sexual behaviour between the pair was consensual and even went as far as saying it was instigated by the girl.

But the defendant pleaded guilty to ten counts of indecent assault, two counts of indecency with a child, another count of gross indecency with a boy and making indecent photographs of a child, at his preliminary court hearing in September, this year.

Throughout today’s hearing, Wray lay horizontal on a hospital bed covered in a blanket while guarded by three paramedics. He said nothing but to confirm his name when asked. In pleas of mitigation, Wray’s barrister Nicola Cafferkey said: “He wishes it to be made plain that he is remorseful and he has taken responsibility for his actions.”

Mrs Cafferkey asked Judge Stephen Warner to consider her client’s severe disability when passing sentence. She continued: “His health has deteriorated quite remarkably in the last couple of years. He’s unable to sit or stand for any prolonged periods of time. He really needs 24-hour care and assistance with the most basic of functions.”

Passing sentence, Judge Stephen Warner said: “I give you credit for pleading guilty – it’s by doing so you have at least spared the victims the ordeal of giving evidence and re-living their experiences.

“So far as the victim was concerned this was systematic, prolonged and repeated conduct of abuse. It involved an abuse of trust on your part. It started when you were trusted to babysit for her. The victims of your behaviour have had to live with the consequences of what you did over many years.

“Had you been a fit man without this disability and contested this case the sentence would have been eight years.”

Wray was jailed for four years and has been placed on the sex offenders register and has been banned from working with children indefinitely. The defendant used a blanket to cover his face as ambulance staff led him out of court.