BANBURY CHILD RAPIST WILLEM VAN DER WERF SENTENCED TO NEARLY 13 YEARS FOR ABUSING 10-YEAR-OLD GIRL

In a harrowing case that has shocked the community of Banbury, Willem van der Werf, a 56-year-old man from Windmill Close, was sentenced to nearly 13 years in prison for a series of heinous crimes committed against a young girl. The offences, which took place last spring, involved multiple counts of child sexual abuse, including rape, attempted rape, sexual assault by penetration, and other serious charges.

Van der Werf had groomed his 10-year-old victim over a period of days, engaging in manipulative and predatory behavior. He falsely told her that he 'liked' her and even kissed her on the lips, actions that marked the beginning of a disturbing pattern of abuse. The abuse escalated on March 26 of the previous year when van der Werf played pornography on his laptop in front of the girl and explicitly told her they would 'have sex.'

Subsequently, he sexually assaulted her, forcing her to perform a sex act on him before raping her. The young girl confided in her mother about the assault, which led to van der Werf's arrest by police authorities. During the investigation, police specialists searched his laptop and discovered searches for terms such as 'tiny teens' and 'rape,' indicating premeditation and a disturbing interest in sexual exploitation of minors.

Prosecutor Robert Brown emphasized the calculated nature of van der Werf's actions, stating, “If not a campaign, it is a course of conduct that involved a degree of planning and grooming and notwithstanding the defendant’s denials in his pre-sentence report, clearly based on his attempt to derive sexual gratification and sexual interest in a very young child.”

Judge Nigel Daly, presiding over the case, sentenced van der Werf to 12 years and nine months in prison, with an additional four years on license following his release. The judge expressed profound condemnation of van der Werf's actions, stating, “What you have done to her is destroy not only her childhood but possibly the rest of her life. You did it for your own sexual gratification. There is no escaping from that.”

He further added, “You abused this child in circumstances where you were supposed to be looking after her. You abused her in such a way that she will never recover from that which you have done to her.”

Van der Werf, who previously resided in Calthorpe, Banbury, pleaded guilty to ten counts, including child rape, attempted child rape, sexual assault by penetration of a child under 13, sexual activity with a child under 13, inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity, and causing a child to watch an image of a sexual act. As part of his sentence, he will remain on the sex offender register for life.

Earlier, in April 2022, van der Werf appeared before Oxford Crown Court, where he admitted to a series of sex offences against the same 10-year-old girl. Judge Michael Gledhill QC remanded him in custody, warning that he should expect a substantial immediate prison sentence. The sentencing was scheduled for May 30, but there was a possibility it could be delayed further to allow for a report on his dangerousness, reflecting the severity of his crimes and the potential risk he poses to the community.