In 2013, the Offender Database reported that Paul Wilson, then 30, of Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, was jailed indefinitely for the protection of the public. On 25 February 2013, Wilson was sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court after a family member discovered a “sick scorecard” hidden beneath his mattress, which detailed a 15-year campaign of “vile” sexual terror against children.
The investigation established that Wilson’s offending stretched back to 2001. The “twisted list” found by his relative contained at least 12 names of child victims, accompanied by ratings and descriptions. The prosecution reported that Wilson lured one 10-year-old boy into his home with the promise of computer games and pocket money, only to lock the doors and sexually assault him despite the child’s desperate pleas. When police contacted the individuals on the list, the full scale of his predatory behaviour—involving at least three “vulnerable and innocent” children on Tyneside—was finally uncovered.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
Judge Roger Thorn QC emphasised that Wilson was so dangerous that there was no hesitation in deciding he must be imprisoned for the public protection (IPP). The court reported that Wilson had previously been handed a 21-month sentence in 2009 for attacking a 13-year-old, but the discovery of the list in 2010 revealed the true extent of his 15-year campaign. The judge emphasised that now was the “time of reckoning” for a man who treated children as entries on a scorecard.
Detective Inspector Paul Race of the Northumbria Police Rape Investigation Team emphasised that Wilson had cynically targeted innocent children for his own sexual gratification. The prosecution emphasised that the sentence should send a message to all offenders that sexual crimes will be investigated thoroughly. For his crimes in Newcastle, the court determined that Wilson posed a serious and ongoing risk of harm, necessitating a sentence that would keep him away from children for many years to come.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For his crimes in Tyne and Wear, Paul Wilson was handed:
- Custodial Sentence: Jailed indefinitely for public protection (IPP).
- Minimum Term: Ordered to serve at least four-and-a-half years before being eligible for parole.
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements are in effect for life.
- Convictions: Admitted sexual assault of a boy under 13, nine offences of indecent assault of a girl under 16, and five offences of indecent assault of a boy under 16.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Wilson is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by Northumbria Police and the prison estate. Due to his “dangerous” classification and his history of documenting and rating his abuse, his management is a high priority for the Public Protection Unit.
As a lifetime member of the Sex Offenders Register, Wilson remains subject to stringent notification requirements regarding his residence and travel, should he ever be considered for release by the Parole Board. Authorities in Newcastle state that his “scorecard” demonstrated a level of calculation and lack of remorse that necessitates the highest level of scrutiny. Any breach of his registration conditions or future licence terms would result in his immediate arrest and return to prison under the terms of his indefinite sentence.
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