WILLIAM ROGERS FROM MILVERTON AND WEYMOUTH SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF BOYS IN CARE HOMES

In a case that has shocked the local communities of Milverton and Weymouth, William Rogers, aged 51, was handed a substantial prison sentence after being found guilty of a series of heinous sexual offences committed against young boys. Rogers, who resided on Corporation Road in Weymouth, was convicted on multiple counts following a detailed trial at Bristol Crown Court.

Rogers, who was widely known by the nickname 'Big Bill,' was employed at the Olands Observation and Assessment Centre, located in Milverton near Taunton, Somerset. Over the course of his employment, he engaged in a disturbing pattern of abuse that spanned several years, specifically between 1980 and 1987. The court heard that Rogers subjected boys as young as nine to a range of sexual assaults, often involving sadistic games that included torture, bondage, and physical harm, which he carried out for his own perverted gratification.

The jury found Rogers guilty of 16 counts of indecent assault, one count of inciting boys to indecently assault other boys, and one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Additionally, he pleaded guilty to 13 other similar offences, all related to the same period. The judge, Francis Gilbert QC, described Rogers' actions as a grave betrayal of trust, emphasizing that he viewed the children in his care as mere playthings for his sexual and physical pleasures.

During the sentencing, Judge Gilbert condemned Rogers for treating the care home environment as a 'paedophile’s paradise,' where he inflicted sexual abuse, pain, and torture on vulnerable children. The judge expressed his horror and distress at some of the evidence presented during the trial, noting that Rogers showed no remorse for the damage caused to his victims. The court was also informed that Rogers had attempted to dismiss the allegations by accusing his victims of fabricating their stories to seek compensation.

As a result of his convictions, Rogers was sentenced to a total of six years in prison. The judge made it clear that the sentence reflected the severity of the offences and the lasting impact on the victims. Rogers showed no visible emotion during the proceedings, neither at the verdicts nor during sentencing. He was acquitted of two charges of indecent assault and the jury was directed to return not guilty verdicts on four other similar charges.

This case was the culmination of a two-year investigation into child abuse allegations across the Avon and Somerset area, highlighting the importance of ongoing efforts to uncover and address such grave misconduct. The community and advocacy groups continue to call for vigilance and support for victims of abuse, especially those who suffered in trusted environments like care homes.