SCOTT WILLOWS, LEICESTER CHILD RAPIST, SENTENCED FOR PREDATORY OFFENCES

In a case that has sent shockwaves through Leicester, a man named Scott Willows, aged 23, has been sentenced to serve a minimum of four and a half years in prison for heinous crimes involving the sexual abuse of a young boy. The court heard that Willows, who previously resided on Amadis Road in the Beaumont Leys area of Leicester, was convicted of multiple serious offences, including two counts of indecent assault and two counts of rape, committed against a boy aged between eight and eleven during the mid to late 1990s. At the time of these offences, Willows was between 12 and 15 years old, indicating a disturbing pattern of predatory behavior from a very young age.

Leicester Crown Court was told that Willows harbored a deep-seated sexual attraction to children of both sexes, a fact that was supported by his own admissions and prior cautions. The court was presented with a report revealing that during his detention in 2002, Willows confided in prison staff about his disturbing thoughts, admitting that he had watched children and thought about how easy it was to lure them away. He further acknowledged that he needed help but confessed that he did not want to cease offending because he derived pleasure from it, and that children were the source of his happiness.

During the trial, the jury found Willows guilty of the serious offences, which included two counts of indecent assault and two counts of rape against the young boy. The judge, Philip Head, expressed his condemnation of Willows' actions, stating that he had inflicted 'incalculable and serious psychological harm' on his victim. The judge emphasized the dangerous nature of Willows' predatory conduct, highlighting the deliberate targeting of a vulnerable child with a troubled background.

In his sentencing remarks, Judge Head explained that the court was imposing a sentence for public protection due to the 'very high risk indeed of a grave kind' that Willows posed to the community. The judge noted that Willows had been remanded in custody for 568 days prior to sentencing, which would be deducted from his minimum term. Nevertheless, he warned that there was a strong likelihood that Willows' actual time served could be longer than the minimum required. Upon release, Willows will be subject to a life license, which will impose specific conditions aimed at preventing further offences.

Willows, in a brief statement during police interviews, acknowledged having a problem, stating, 'I have a bit of a problem, but I’ve been trying to fight it for some while.' During the court proceedings, he also admitted to sometimes controlling his urges. It was also revealed that at the age of 17 or 18, Willows had indecently assaulted an 11-year-old girl. His criminal history includes cautions and convictions dating back to 1999, when he was cautioned for touching a nine-year-old girl’s genitals. In 2001, he indecently assaulted a nine-year-old girl and an eight-year-old boy, touching them inappropriately and committing a serious sex act on the boy. Further offences occurred in 2005, when CCTV footage captured him placing his hands on the bottoms of two young girls in Leicester city centre over their clothing, acts which added to his criminal record.

Leicester residents and community leaders have expressed their concern over the severity of Willows' crimes and the ongoing risks posed by individuals with such histories. The court's decision underscores the importance of protecting vulnerable children from predatory offenders and highlights the need for continued vigilance and intervention to prevent similar tragedies in the future.