WORKSOP EX-SOLDIER IAN WILSON SENTENCED TO 14 YEARS FOR CHILD RAPE AND INDECENT IMAGES

In a harrowing case that has shocked the community of Worksop, Ian Wilson, a 55-year-old former soldier, was handed a substantial prison sentence after being convicted of heinous crimes involving the sexual abuse of young children. The sentencing took place at Nottingham Crown Court on Friday, July 12th, 2013, following a detailed trial and a guilty verdict on multiple counts.

Wilson was found guilty last month by a jury of three counts of raping two children under the age of 13. The court also learned that he had admitted to possessing and downloading numerous indecent images of children, which added to the severity of his crimes. The court proceedings revealed that Wilson had engaged in sexual assaults on two young victims on three separate occasions during 2011 and 2012. During these assaults, he explicitly instructed the children to keep the abuse a secret, exploiting their vulnerability and innocence.

The court heard that the victims eventually disclosed the abuse after one of them 'blurted it out' to their parents, leading to Wilson’s arrest and subsequent investigation. Recorder Christopher Donnellan, presiding over the case, condemned Wilson’s actions, emphasizing the breach of trust and the exploitation of the children’s innocence. He stated, “The abuse of these little children by you in this way was a gross breach of trust. The innocence of them at the time is something you took advantage of.” The judge also expressed concern about the long-term impact of such abuse, noting that it is difficult to predict how these young victims will be affected as they grow older.

Further details revealed that around the same period when Wilson was raping the first child, he was also actively searching the internet for images of 'teen and pre-teen' children. When police arrested him in June of the previous year, they seized his computer and discovered thousands of disturbing images and videos. Many of these were classified as the most serious category, involving children as young as three years old.

Wilson’s defense attorney, Errol Ballentyne, attempted to portray him as someone who had contributed positively to society, citing his 16 years of military service until 1990, which included deployments to Kosovo, Iran, and Iraq. Ballentyne explained that Wilson left the army due to difficulties coping with flashbacks and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which he was diagnosed with shortly before the trial. Wilson was also reported to be on medication for a heart condition at the time.

After considering all the evidence, Recorder Donnellan sentenced Wilson to a total of 14 years in prison. The sentence comprised 13 years for the three counts of rape and an additional year for the possession and downloading of indecent images. The judge clarified that Wilson would serve only seven years in custody, with the remaining portion of his sentence to be served on remand. Additionally, Wilson was subjected to a lifelong sexual offences prevention order, which prohibits him from having unsupervised contact with children or working with children in any capacity.

As the court proceedings concluded, Wilson acknowledged the support of his family by waving to them before being handcuffed and taken away to begin his sentence. The case has left a lasting impact on the community of Worksop, highlighting the importance of vigilance and safeguarding vulnerable children from predators like Ian Wilson.