JOHN WOOLER FROM SOUTHAMPTON JAILED FOR INTERNET-BASED ABDUCTION AND ASSAULT IN CHELTENHAM

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the local community, John Wooler, a 46-year-old man from Southampton, has been sentenced to prison for his involvement in the abduction and indecent assault of a teenage girl he met through an online chat room. The incident took place in Cheltenham, where Wooler traveled from Southampton to meet the 14-year-old girl he had been communicating with via the internet.

According to court proceedings, Wooler engaged in online conversations and telephone calls with the young girl, who was underage, before they arranged to meet in person. Wooler, who was unemployed at the time and a married father of three, drove approximately two hours from Southampton to Cheltenham to pick her up. The meeting was set in a secluded lay-by, where Wooler and the girl spent time together. During their encounter, Wooler offered her alcohol and presented her with gifts, actions that raised immediate concerns. The situation escalated when Wooler and the girl shared a passionate kiss, despite her being underage and not having informed her parents about the meeting.

It was revealed that Wooler had sent the girl inappropriate items, including adult underwear, which alarmed her parents and contributed to suspicions about his intentions. The girl’s parents became aware of the situation when they received text messages from her, prompting Wooler to drive her back home. Wooler later admitted to the police that he had abducted the girl and indecently assaulted her in November 2001.

Prosecutor Toby Halliwell, representing the Crown at Gloucester Crown Court, explained that Wooler had used a false identity online to establish contact with the girl. He had befriended her, discussing topics such as pop music, and had even sent her phone credits. Despite his claims of being an adult and married with children, Wooler’s actions included sending the girl adult underwear, which caused concern among her parents. Further investigation uncovered evidence that Wooler had contacted other girls aged 14 through the internet using his laptop computer.

During the trial, Wooler’s defense lawyer, James Counsell, argued that his client did not deliberately deceive the young girl with malicious intent. Counsell stated, “This is not a case of someone deliberately deceiving a young person in order to meet them. The two left amicably, and he became concerned when her parents tried to contact her. It is right to say that there was never any attempt to go against her wishes.”

However, Judge Gabriel Hutton delivered a stern sentence, condemning Wooler’s actions. He remarked, “You, a man in your 40s, should be absolutely ashamed of yourself for carrying on in this way with a girl of 14. She was obviously willing, but there’s no excuse whatsoever because children have to be protected from themselves.” Wooler was sentenced to 18 months in prison, with the requirement to serve half of that term. Additionally, he was ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register, marking a significant legal consequence for his conduct.