JAMES STRATTON FROM DORKING AND PERTH SENTENCED FOR HORRIFIC CHILD ABUSE AND SEX OFFENSES

In a disturbing case that spans multiple locations including Dorking and Perth, James Stratton, aged 69, has been sentenced to a total of 12 years in prison for a series of heinous sexual offenses committed over nearly a decade. The crimes, which involved the abuse of a young boy and girl, took place between 1972 and 1982 at various sites within Dorking, Surrey. Stratton, who previously resided on Harrow Road East in Dorking, vehemently denied all allegations during the trial, yet the court found him guilty of two counts of indecent assault and five counts of aiding and abetting indecent assault.

His arrest in December 2010 marked the culmination of a lengthy investigation, after the male victim chose to break a silence that had persisted for over 30 years. During the court proceedings, a police interview video was played, revealing the harrowing testimony of the female victim, now 45 years old. She recounted how Stratton had subjected her to sexual acts, coerced her into performing similar acts on the male victim, and forced her to watch pornography. She described the material as particularly disturbing, including scenes involving animals, men, women, and sometimes younger individuals, which Stratton would show her.

The female victim also disclosed that Stratton would take her to a public toilet somewhere in Dorking, where she was compelled to perform sexual acts on other men, adding to the severity of her abuse. Detective Constable Trudie Harrison emphasized the gravity of the case, stating, “The conviction of James Stratton was the result of a lengthy and complex investigation into a number of historic offences which were brought to Surrey Police’s attention in 2010. Stratton is a dangerous individual who preyed on innocent victims, and the sentence handed down in court reflects the severity of the offences.”

Further details revealed that Stratton had a prior conviction in 2010, when he was sentenced to five years in prison and five years on licence after secretly filming couples at a hotel in Perth, Scotland. Additionally, authorities uncovered a substantial collection of child pornography stored in a unit at Perth Airport, which Stratton had hidden. As a result of this conviction, he will now be registered as a sex offender indefinitely.

Detective Constable Harrison expressed her hope that the conviction demonstrates Surrey Police’s unwavering commitment to bringing dangerous sex offenders to justice. She also commended the victims for their bravery in providing evidence, acknowledging the ordeal they endured. Stratton was acquitted of two additional charges related to aiding and abetting indecent assault, but the overall verdict underscores the seriousness of his crimes.

In a related case from September 2010, Stratton, then aged 67, was sentenced to five years in prison for secretly filming guests at his bed and breakfast in Perth using pinhole cameras disguised as smoke detectors. The B&B owner, who also hoarded thousands of images and videos of child pornography, was caught after a lodger became suspicious and her brother discovered the hidden devices. The police raid uncovered multiple cameras throughout Stratton’s Perth residence, and a search of his storage unit at Perth Airport revealed over 8,000 explicit child-porn images and more than 600 videos. Stratton admitted to filming visitors in 2005 at his guest house, and Sheriff Michael Fletcher sentenced him to five years, with an additional five years on licence, reflecting the severity of his crimes.