JAMES GILES, CHILD RAPIST FROM HALIFAX AND JERSEY, DIES IN MOORLAND PRISON NEAR DONCASTER

In a tragic development, James Giles, a convicted child rapist, was found dead in his cell at Moorland Prison, located near Doncaster, on Wednesday, April 6th. The 25-year-old from Morley was discovered unresponsive, prompting immediate concern and investigation. Giles had been serving a 10-year extended sentence handed down in March 2013 after he pleaded guilty to multiple heinous crimes involving minors.

Giles’s criminal record was marked by severe offenses, including four counts of sexual assault on a child under the age of 13 and one count of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. During his sentencing, the presiding judge described Giles as having an “evil interest in children,” emphasizing the severity and depravity of his actions. The Ministry of Justice has confirmed that an investigation into his death is currently underway, with all deaths in custody being subject to thorough inquiry by the independent Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, as well as a Coroner’s inquest.

Prior to his incarceration, Giles had a troubling history involving allegations of child abuse in Jersey. Records indicate that he faced five or six complaints related to inappropriate conduct with young children while residing there. However, authorities in Jersey failed to take effective action against these allegations, a failure that allowed Giles to relocate to West Yorkshire. It was after this move that he committed the horrific act of raping a five-year-old girl, further highlighting the dangerous pattern of his predatory behavior.

In March 2013, Giles was sentenced at Bradford Crown Court to a lengthy prison term after admitting to sexual offenses committed against a young girl from Halifax the previous year. The victim, whose identity remains protected for legal reasons, provided a detailed and courageous account of her ordeal, which was instrumental in securing Giles’s conviction. Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC commended the young girl for her clarity and bravery, noting that her cooperation greatly facilitated the prosecution’s case.

Despite initially denying any sexual activity following his arrest, Giles pleaded guilty to four counts of assault by penetration of a child under 13 and one count of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity. Evidence collected during the investigation, including DNA samples from Giles’s fingernails, matched the victim’s DNA, further substantiating the charges. Giles’s criminal history did not include previous sexual offenses, but his record was marred by other convictions.

Judge Durham Hall sentenced Giles to seven-and-a-half years in prison, with an additional two-and-a-half years on license due to the significant danger he posed to children. The judge expressed concern over Giles’s disturbing pre-sentence comments, revealing an obsession with sex from a young age and an attraction to taboo subjects. The court heard that Giles had ignored the protests of his young victim, who must have been terrified and confused during the assault.

The judge issued a stark warning, stating that Giles represented a substantial risk of causing serious harm to children if given the opportunity. He emphasized that Giles’s actions and admitted interests made him a very real danger of abusing or harming children again. The sentence was also intended to serve as a clear message to the public that individuals with such dangerous predilections, especially those influenced by pornography and an evil interest in children, would face the harshest penalties.

As part of his ongoing punishment, Giles is now required to register as a sex offender with the police for the remainder of his life. Additionally, he is subject to an indefinite sexual offences prevention order, which aims to restrict his contact with minors and prevent further harm. The circumstances of his death remain under investigation, but his passing marks a somber chapter in the ongoing efforts to address and prevent child sexual abuse.