Darlington rapist branded a ‘dangerous young man’ by judge

James Wilson threw boiling water at his victim, attacked her with a baseball bat and published an intimate photograph of the woman during a campaign of abuse.

The 22-year-old would regularly threaten the woman and her family to ensure she did as he required, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Paul Newcombe, prosecuting, said on one occasion Wilson punched the woman in the face before throwing ammonia at her.

He said on another occasion the defendant threw a kettle of boiling water at her and beat her around the legs with a baseball bat leaving her with a broken ankle.

The court heard how the defendant had a previous conviction for burglary on the same victim’s home and was serving a suspended sentence at the time of some of the offences.

“He threw a kettle at her and tried to scald her,” he said. “He poured ammonia over her and he had access to it as he was addicted to crack cocaine at the time.”

In a victim personal statement, the woman told the judge that she was now too afraid to stay in her own home as she feared what Wilson would do to her.

James Wilson (Image: Durham Constabulary)

Wilson, of Honeypot Lane Caravan Site, Darlington, was convicted of two counts of rape, grievous bodily harm with intent, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, disclosing private sexual photographs and coercive and controlling behaviour following a trial.

He had previously pleaded guilty to sending threatening messages and breaching a restraining order on the day his trial started.

Laura Miller, mitigating, urged the judge to take her client’s age into account when passing sentence.

She said Wilson had been working on his mental health while on remand in custody and he had a limited level of education.

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Judge Chris Smith called the Darlington rapist a ‘dangerous young man’ as he sentenced him to 12 years in prison with two years on extended licence.

“You are a dangerous young man. Your inability to control yourself led to you engaging in manipulative behaviour, culminating in those violent assaults and serious sexual offending,” he said.

“You are highly likely to have some mental health issues which have played a part in this offending although some of your difficulties appear to stem from your abuse of controlled drugs.”

Wilson was also made subject to an indefinite restraining order to protect his victim and was told to sign on the sex offenders’ register for life.