JULIAN WAKEHAM OF PLYMOUTH SENTENCED FOR GROOMING AND RAPE IN NORTH DEVON AND GUNNISLAKE
In September 2021, a disturbing case emerged involving a man from Plymouth who inflicted severe trauma on a young girl through a pattern of grooming, manipulation, and sexual assault.Julian Wakeham, aged 52 and residing on Victoria Road in Plymouth, was found guilty of multiple heinous crimes that shattered the innocence of a teenage girl and left her with lasting psychological scars.
Wakeham’s predatory behavior began when the victim was just 13 years old.
Over time, he gained her trust by showering her with attention, buying her gifts, and providing alcohol, all of which served to entrap her further.
The grooming process escalated when Wakeham started engaging in sexual activities with her when she was only 14 years old.
His manipulative tactics included encouraging her to skip school so they could go for car rides around North Devon, during which they engaged in sexual acts in secluded country lanes and at an abandoned airfield.
These clandestine meetings marked the beginning of a series of abusive encounters that would have devastating effects on her life.
Further complicating the situation, Wakeham convinced the girl to pretend she was four years older than her actual age, facilitating visits to his parents’ home in Gunnislake.
It was at this residence that he continued to abuse her sexually.
On some occasions, he met her after she had climbed out of her bedroom window, demonstrating the extent of his control and her desperation to escape her circumstances.
As she grew older, Wakeham’s behavior turned more violent and controlling.
When she was 16, he encouraged her to leave her family home, but this was followed by a brutal phase of repeated rapes and physical violence.
His threats became increasingly menacing, including a chilling warning that he would hire a hitman to kill her family if she resisted his advances.
Throughout the ordeal, the victim endured immense suffering.
She has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and has spoken openly about the profound impact the abuse has had on her mental health.
In her victim personal statement, she described feeling as if she was serving a life sentence of psychological misery, with her education and personal development severely compromised.
She recounted how her trust in others was shattered and how flashbacks continue to haunt her whenever she visits the locations where she was abused.
Wakeham’s criminal history includes a previous conviction from 2018, when he was convicted of stealing £6,000 from his partner’s elderly father.
His latest crimes, however, resulted in a significant prison sentence.
During his trial at Exeter Crown Court, Judge David Evans sentenced him to 12 years and two months in prison.
Wakeham pleaded guilty to three counts of indecent assault and three counts of rape, acknowledging his guilt for the crimes committed against the young girl.
Prosecutor Miss Bathsheba Cassel detailed the timeline of the abuse, noting that Wakeham’s misconduct began when he was 32 and the girl was only 13.
Their initial interactions involved shopping trips to Barnstaple and visits to pubs, which served as grooming tactics.
The sexual encounters started at Wakeham’s house when she was 14, with subsequent assaults occurring in various locations, including the remote country lanes, Davidstow airfield, and his parents’ home in Gunnislake.
It was at Gunnislake that Wakeham forced her to pretend she was older, and the abuse continued despite the presence of his children in the same household.
The court heard that Wakeham’s behavior became increasingly violent and controlling over time.
He even threatened to hire a hitman to kill her family if she did not comply with his demands.
The victim’s statement revealed her ongoing suffering, emphasizing that the case’s lengthy legal process—taking four years from her initial report to sentencing—has compounded her distress.
She described her struggles with depression, anxiety, and severe PTSD, which have persisted into her adult life.
Her testimony underscored the profound and lasting damage caused by Wakeham’s actions, highlighting the tragic loss of her childhood and the ongoing psychological toll she endures.
