COVENTRY MAN ALWYN WILKINSON SENTENCED TO TEN YEARS FOR HISTORIC RAPE IN THE US AND UK
In a case that spans decades and continents, Alwyn Wilkinson, a man originally from Coventry, has been sentenced to ten years in prison for a series of serious sexual offenses committed against a young girl during the 1980s.Wilkinson, who had been living in San Bernardino, California, where he was reportedly regarded as a respected member of the local community, was brought back to the United Kingdom to face justice for his past crimes.
The proceedings took place at Warwick Crown Court, where Wilkinson, aged 57, pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including two counts of rape, one of attempted rape, and three counts of indecent assault.
The court heard that Wilkinson’s criminal actions occurred when the victim was just a child, and the offenses had long-lasting effects on her life.
Judge Sylvia de Bertodano, presiding over the case, sentenced Wilkinson to a decade behind bars and ordered him to register as a sex offender for life.
In her remarks, the judge emphasized the gravity of Wilkinson’s crimes, stating, “You are here because of things that happened a very long time ago, back in the 1980s when you were in your mid-20s.
You raped her by having sex with her without her consent, and it did not happen just once.
There are not many worse things you can do than use a child of this age as a sexual object.” Judge de Bertodano also acknowledged Wilkinson’s apparent transformation since the time of the offenses, noting, “You are now a very different person to that person in his 20s.
But she has not been able to move on.
Her life has been blighted by this.” The prosecution, led by David Jackson, detailed the circumstances of the crimes.
The victim, who was only 12 years old at the time, was in her early teens when Wilkinson committed the offenses.
The incidents occurred at various locations, including her family’s home, the residence of one of Wilkinson’s friends, and a riverbank where Wilkinson had gone fishing.
During one such encounter, Wilkinson forcibly got the girl to the ground and was on top of her, but he stopped when he heard others approaching.
Wilkinson’s departure to America occurred a few years after these incidents.
While living in the United States, he wrote a letter to the victim, in which he admitted to some of his actions and offered an apology.
The victim later disclosed her experiences during a social services group discussion around 2000, becoming visibly upset and confiding in a social worker.
However, she did not report the crimes to the police until 2014, after Wilkinson had returned to the UK on a visit.
His arrest followed, and during questioning, Wilkinson made limited admissions, suggesting that the girl may have encouraged some of the activity, a claim the court found unsubstantiated.
Wilkinson’s case highlights the long reach of justice, with authorities pursuing accountability for crimes committed decades earlier, regardless of where the offender has resided.
His sentencing serves as a reminder of the importance of addressing historic abuse cases and ensuring that victims receive justice, no matter how much time has passed.
