ALEXANDER WESTWOOD SENTENCED IN ALBRIGHTON FOR SEXUAL OFFENCES AGAINST CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS

In a highly disturbing case that has shocked the community of Albrighton, Alexander Westwood, a 24-year-old actor known for his role in the Netflix series Sex Education, has been handed a severe prison sentence of 15 years after being convicted on a total of 26 charges related to sexual offences against minors. The conviction was secured following a rigorous four-week trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court, where a jury deliberated for two days before reaching a unanimous verdict in December.

Westwood’s crimes spanned over a decade, during which he exploited his minor celebrity status to carry out a series of predatory acts. The court heard harrowing details of his abuse, which included the sexual assault of a boy under the age of 10, as well as two teenage pupils he tutored in acting lessons. One of these teenage victims was raped on at least three separate occasions, highlighting the extent and brutality of his misconduct.

Judge Neil Chawla KC condemned Westwood’s actions, describing his behavior as part of a ‘campaign’ of sexual offending that lasted approximately eleven years. The judge emphasized that Westwood used his fame as a means to manipulate and exploit vulnerable young individuals, often under the guise of providing acting lessons. Throughout the trial, Westwood displayed a ‘seemingly nonchalant attitude’ that bordered on arrogance, even smirking in the dock as the details of his ‘predatory and deviant’ conduct were read aloud. Despite the evidence, Westwood maintained that his victims were lying, but the jury’s verdict proved otherwise.

During the proceedings, Judge Chawla highlighted Westwood’s lack of remorse and insight, criticizing his failure to acknowledge the devastating impact of his actions. He described Westwood’s sexual misconduct as ‘sordid’ and noted that his offending was characterized by manipulative and controlling behavior. The court revealed that the abuse began when one victim was just six years old, with Westwood himself being only ten at the time. The prosecutor, Andrew Wallace, detailed how this early abuse involved inappropriate touching, exposure to pornography, and normalization of sexual acts, which had long-lasting effects on the victims.

Further allegations included Westwood encouraging a young boy to touch himself during a ‘game’ when he was 10 and Westwood was 18, as well as holding down another woman repeatedly, despite her protests that she did not want to engage in sexual activity. The court also heard about his exploitation of two teenage girls seeking acting advice, with one victim being made to undress and act out sexualized scenes. Westwood raped her on at least three occasions, instructing her to ‘do what your teacher says’ and asking ‘Do you trust me?’ when she expressed discomfort.

The prosecutor pointed out the manipulative tactics Westwood employed, including bullying a girl into signing a contract that kept her in lessons so he could continue abusing her, despite her reluctance to attend. The court condemned Westwood’s planning and calculated approach to his offending, which was described as a deliberate pretext for sexual abuse rather than genuine acting instruction. Judge Chawla concluded that Westwood’s sexual thinking was ‘distorted’ and that he had shown little to no remorse, with the jury rejecting his attempts to blame his victims. The judge characterized him as a ‘serial sexual offender,’ whose misconduct had become a disturbing part of his lifestyle, leaving a trail of trauma and suffering among his victims.