TERENCE WHEELER FROM ANGLESEY AND STOCKTON HEATH SENTENCED FOR NEAR-DECADE OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE

In a harrowing case that has shocked the communities of Anglesey and Stockton Heath, a pensioner named Terence Michael Wheeler has been sentenced to 13 years in prison for a prolonged period of sexual abuse against a young boy. Wheeler, aged 65, residing at Egremont Court in Stockton Heath, was convicted at Caernarfon Crown Court on Monday after a jury found him guilty of nine separate counts of rape and sexual assault.

According to court proceedings, Wheeler’s victim, who is legally protected from identification, was subjected to Wheeler’s abuse starting from the age of six. The abuse continued into the boy’s early teenage years, with Wheeler raping him on multiple occasions. The court heard that the offences only came to light after the victim, now an adult in his twenties and married, confided in his wife, parents, and the police in March 2008 about Wheeler, a former engineer at the Wylfa power station in Wales.

Judge Phillip Hughes described the abuse as “regular and very frequent,” emphasizing the severity and persistence of Wheeler’s actions. He stated, “It started when he was six or seven and happened three, four or five times a week with hardly a break during that time.” The judge expressed his disgust at Wheeler’s conduct, remarking that “the fact is that to ordinary, decent people of whatever sexual orientation – and whatever their sexual appetite – hearing what you did to that small boy over a period of many years would be sickening.”

Addressing Wheeler directly, Judge Hughes condemned his breach of trust, highlighting the gravity of his crimes. Wheeler’s personal history reveals limited relationships with women. His first marriage was to Dilys, with whom he had a son and a daughter before their divorce over 35 years ago. He later married Sylvia, who had two children from a previous relationship, and together they had a son before eventually becoming estranged. Wheeler also had a relationship with a widow, with whom he moved to Warrington. Notably, he previously resided in Benllech, Anglesey, adding to the list of locations associated with his life.

Wheeler’s sentencing underscores the serious nature of his crimes and the devastating impact on his victim, whose courage in coming forward has brought justice after years of silence. The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of safeguarding vulnerable children and the long-lasting consequences of abuse.