KEITH WILLIS FROM BECCLES SENTENCED IN WORLINGHAM FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF SCHOOLBOY

In a disturbing case that has shocked the local community, Keith Willis, a man previously known for his involvement in the archery scene in Worlingham, has been handed an 18-year prison sentence for the heinous sexual abuse and rape of a young schoolboy. Willis, who resides on Gresham Road in Beccles, was convicted of multiple serious charges following a detailed trial at Ipswich Crown Court.

Judge Rupert Overbury, presiding over the case, did not hold back in condemning Willis, describing him as a “serial sex offender” who had systematically targeted the boy over a period of four years. The judge emphasized that Willis’s campaign of abuse was both calculated and manipulative, taking advantage of the boy’s innocence and trust. The abuse reportedly occurred when the victim was between the ages of eight and twelve, a particularly vulnerable period in childhood.

Willis’s criminal history is extensive. Last year, he was sentenced to seven years after being found guilty of 16 sex offences involving four young girls. Some of these offences date back to the early 1970s, and the youngest victim was only about five years old at the time of her abuse. The severity and longevity of Willis’s offending prompted the court to impose a significant sentence, reflecting the gravity of his crimes.

Following Willis’s initial conviction, a further victim, now in his twenties, came forward after hearing about Willis’s previous convictions. This individual claimed that Willis had sexually assaulted him during his childhood, adding to the mounting evidence against him. The police subsequently charged Willis with five counts of indecent assault on a male, two counts of indecency with a child, three counts of buggery, and one count of rape. Willis denied all charges, but the jury found him guilty on all counts after a trial that took place last month.

During the proceedings, the victim recounted the abuse, revealing that Willis had assaulted him multiple times over more than 15 years. The victim also testified that Willis had instructed him to keep the abuse a secret, further highlighting the manipulative nature of Willis’s actions. The court heard that some of the assaults occurred in Willis’s car parked at the side of the road, indicating a disturbing level of planning and concealment.

In delivering his sentence, Judge Overbury acknowledged Willis’s poor health but emphasized the seriousness of his crimes. The judge pointed out that Willis had ignored the victim’s protests during the assaults and that the psychological scars inflicted on the victim would likely never fully heal. The court ordered that Willis’s 18-year sentence run concurrently with the seven-year sentence he was already serving. Additionally, Willis was subjected to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order and was ordered to register as a sex offender, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his activities.

This case underscores the importance of vigilance and justice in protecting vulnerable individuals from predatory offenders like Keith Willis, whose actions have left a lasting impact on his victims and the community of Beccles and Worlingham.