A convicted child rapist who kidnapped a boy aged 12 to sexually assault him in a field has been handed a life prison sentence.
The city’s crown court heard James William, 34, had not long been released from jail when he approached the boy during school summer holidays in August 2022 in Carlisle, initially pretending to be on his phone.
After they spoke for several minutes, William offered the boy £20 to show him around the area and where he could go running.
William provided vodka and Red Bull mixed in a bottle. The boy swallowed around a mouthful of that drink, was isolated from a friend and given use of a vape by William, who then walked down a path with the youngster.
When they were alone in a field, William pulled the shirt out of the child’s trousers with the intention of the boy becoming naked, said prosecutor Peter Wilson.
He added: “It was at this point the complainant heard his mum screaming his name which caused the defendant to stop and the complainant to run away and back to his mum.”
Police were called and William was arrested. He denied the crimes in interview but later, in court, admitted kidnap, sexual assault, committing an offence with intent to commit a sexual offence and breaching a previously imposed sexual offences prevention order.
These admissions were on the basis that William — originally from Accrington, Lancashire — did not intend to commit offences when he left his Carlisle address that day, and that he used no physical force.
So deeply affected was the boy that he did not speak to police about his ordeal. But in two moving statements, his mother outlined the terrible and lasting effects of William’s crimes on the youngster and their family.
“He is scared to close his eyes and can see the man’s face. His night terrors are awful. I do not know what to do to help him,” she said in an initial statement.
“I never imagined something like this would happen to my family in Carlisle. (The boy) being taken by that man is like something you see on television. No-one should have to feel the way he has been made to feel, especially as a child.”
In a second statement, his mother added: “I fear that this incident will continue impacting my son’s and family’s lives for years to come. He is a totally different boy to who he was before this happened.”
The court heard William, of no fixed abode, had served lengthy custodial sentences in the past for raping boys and child sex assaults — offences committed while he was aged 16 to 21.
“He has spent pretty much his adult life in custody,” said defence barrister Jacob Dyer, who mitigated and provided background information. “He now knows he will be in custody for a long time. He has done a terrible thing. That much is clear.”
Imposing a life sentence, Judge Michael Fanning concluded that William was a dangerous offender after hearing he was deemed a very high risk to children, and ruled that he must serve 56 months in prison before being considered for release by a parole board.
“It is clear your motive was wholly sexual,” said Judge Fanning of the Carlisle crimes. “Who knows what would have happened if your victim’s mother hadn’t arrived at the scene?”
William remains subject to sex offender notification requirements for life, and must abide by the strict terms of a prevention order indefinitely.
