COLIN WRAY: ST ALBANS PAEDOPHILE SENTENCED FOR ADDITIONAL CRIMES IN GREAT YARMOUTH AND ST ALBANS

In a case that has spanned over a decade, Colin Wray, a convicted paedophile from St Albans, has been sentenced for two additional sexual offences that recently came to light following media coverage of his initial conviction. Wray, aged 61 and residing on Gorham Drive in St Albans, was already serving a four-year prison term after admitting to a history of abusing children between 1978 and 1987 during a court hearing in 2009.

His original sentencing was widely reported by the Herts Advertiser and its sister publication, the Welwyn Hatfield Times. These reports highlighted the story of one of his victims, who chose to waive her right to anonymity in an effort to encourage others who might have suffered similar abuse to come forward and seek justice. As a result of this media exposure, two additional victims felt empowered to speak out, leading to Wray’s guilty plea on two further charges of sexual offences involving children.

The first of these new charges involved gross indecency committed against a 10-year-old child in 1984 at a bed and breakfast in Great Yarmouth. The second charge related to indecent assault that took place sometime between 1974 and 1977, at an unspecified location, involving a child aged between eight and eleven years old. Judge John Plumstead sentenced Wray to 15 months imprisonment for both offences, with the sentences to run concurrently with his existing term. Notably, Wray will have served half of this new sentence by December of this year, which means he is eligible for release on licence, and he will not serve any additional time in custody or on licence beyond his current incarceration.

Detective Constable Becky Crudgington expressed her satisfaction that the victims had the courage to come forward after reading about the earlier case. She stated, “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.”

Wray’s criminal history also includes a previous conviction from December 2009, when he was sentenced for sexual abuse committed over a six-year period from 1980 to 1986. At that time, Wray, who suffers from osteoarthritis and was transported to court on a stretcher, pleaded guilty to multiple counts of indecent assault, indecency with a child, gross indecency with a boy, and making indecent photographs of a child. His victim, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was a girl who was abused from the age of eight until she was 14, while under Wray’s supervision.

The 2009 case was brought to light 13 years after the offences occurred, but it was only last year that the victim disclosed her past experiences to the police. During police interviews following his arrest in May 2008, Wray claimed that the sexual acts were consensual and even suggested that the girl had initiated the contact. However, during a court hearing in September of that year, he pleaded guilty to ten counts of indecent assault, two counts of indecency with a child, and other related charges.

Throughout the recent sentencing, Wray was transported to court on a hospital bed, covered with a blanket, and guarded by three paramedics. He remained silent during the proceedings, only confirming his identity when asked. His barrister, Nicola Cafferkey, emphasized Wray’s remorse and his acceptance of responsibility, requesting the court to consider his severe health issues, including his inability to sit or stand for long periods and his need for constant care. She highlighted that his health had significantly deteriorated in recent years.

Judge Stephen Warner acknowledged Wray’s guilty plea, noting that it spared the victims the trauma of testifying and reliving their experiences. The judge described the abuse as systematic, prolonged, and involving a breach of trust, starting when Wray was trusted to babysit the victim. He stated, “The victims of your behaviour have had to live with the consequences of what you did over many years.”

Despite the severity of the offences, the judge sentenced Wray to four years in prison, placing him on the sex offenders register and banning him from working with children indefinitely. Wray was led out of court on a stretcher, covering his face with a blanket, as the court proceedings concluded.