Man gets 14 years for rape and abuse of child

8:20am Saturday 19th July 2008

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A MAN who raped and abused a child was last night beginning a 14-year jail sentence.

Colin Willey, 50, of Holly Crescent, Chester-le-Street, appeared at Teesside Crown Court yesterday.

Amanda Rippon, prosecuting, told the court that after encouraging the girl to commit indecent acts on him, he later progressed to raping her, until the she eventually found the courage to tell her boyfriend.

Ms Rippon said Willey’s victim had attempted suicide because of her treatment at his hands and also suffered severe depression.

Ms Rippon said: “The impact of this has been enormous.

It has impacted on all areas of her life, including the relationships she has had.”

Willey, who forced the complainant to give evidence in his trial, claimed the attacks were not pre-meditated and said he did not get a thrill from them.

His barrister, Yvonne Taylor, said there had been no further allegations against him for a substantial number of years. She said: “He is remorseful and he does hang his head in shame.”

The court was told that a probation assessment on Willey deemed him to be a “high risk” offender.

Willey showed little emotion as he was sentenced to a total of 14 years in jail by Judge Tony Briggs for two rapes, eight indecent assaults and three counts of indecency with a child.

Some of the counts were sample counts only.

Sentencing him, the judge told Willey: “The damage and harm you have done [is] quite incalculable.”

Willey, who was said to have been married for a considerable period and still in touch with his wife, would also have to register on the sex offenders register as a result of the convictions, the judge said.