St Albans paedophile jailed for historic sex attacks

A ST ALBANS paedophile was carried into court on a stretcher today to be jailed for four years for sex offences against two young children. Colin Wray, who has osteoarthritis, was brought to St Albans Crown Court today by ambulance and then carried into t

A ST ALBANS paedophile was carried into court on a stretcher today to be jailed for four years for sex offences against two young children.

Colin Wray, who has osteoarthritis, was brought to St Albans Crown Court today by ambulance and then carried into the courtroom by two paramedics.

He was placed beside the dock on the stretcher covered by a white blanket. He answered "I am" when asked by the clerk if his name was Colin Wray.

On the other side of the court his female victim, who is now in her 30s, watched the proceedings.

Wray, of Gorham Drive, St Albans, had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to sex offences he had committed on a woman when she was aged between eight and 14 and to a sex offence committed on a boy when he was aged between eight and 12.

At the time he was abusing the children, between 1978 and 1987, the delivery driver weighed between 28 and 30 stone.

He was sentenced for 10 counts of indecent assault on the girl, two counts of indecency on her and one of making indecent, naked photographs of her.

He also admitted a charge of gross indecency with the boy.

Some of the offences were committed at a campsite in Hemel Hempstead, Herts., Ivinghoe Beacon in Buckinghamshire and in Great Yarmouth.

Prosecutor Sally Mealing-McLeod told how he had groomed the girl with sweets and had threatened to tell her mother of what had happened.

Defence barrister Nicola Cafferkey said: "Imprisonment will be particularly difficult for him because of the very real health problems he has."

Jailing him, Judge Stephen Warner said: "The victims have had to live with the consequences of what you did over many years. I am conscious you have disabilities and I expect the prison authorities to make suitable arrangements."

Det Con Heulwen Williams of the Child Abuse Investigation Unit said: "These offences were committed against vulnerable victims who were children at the time. This sends out a message to any other victims that Hertfordshire Constabulary will fully investigate child abuse and work with the Crown Prosecution Service and other agencies to secure convictions."

She added: "We believe that there may be other victims who have suffered at the hands of Wray and have not sought help. We would encourage anyone who has been affected by this man or have been a victim of such crimes to come forward. The Constabulary is committed to tackling those who sexually abuse children no matter how long ago the offences occurred."

Anyone with information about Wray or who may have experienced historical abuse themselves is asked to call Hertfordshire's Child Abuse Investigation Unit on the non-emergency number 0845 33 00 222.

Wray will be on the Sex Offenders' Register for life.