In 2024, the Offender Database recorded that Wade Terry King, then 20, of no fixed address in Portsmouth, Hampshire, was jailed for seven and a half years for the rape of a teenager and possession of a weapon. On Thursday, 15 February 2024, King appeared at Portsmouth Crown Court for sentencing. The court reported that the defendant, who was then 18 at the time of the primary offence, was found guilty of raping a 16-year-old girl at an address on Foster Road, Portsmouth, on Saturday, 12 March 2022.
The investigation established that King had attempted to evade justice by failing to appear for his original trial in November 2023. Following his apprehension, he faced further charges relating to an incident in June 2023, where he was found in possession of an offensive weapon. Hampshire Constabulary reported that the rape occurred in a domestic setting on Foster Road, and the subsequent weapon charge highlighted a continued pattern of dangerous behaviour while the defendant was awaiting trial for the sexual assault.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that King’s actions toward the 16-year-old victim were “reprehensible” and had a significant impact on her well-being. Portsmouth Crown Court heard that the defendant’s decision to abscond before his trial added to the gravity of his case. The judge noted that the seven-year term for rape, combined with a consecutive six-month sentence for the weapon offence, was necessary to reflect the risk King posed to the public in Portsmouth, Hampshire.
The judge noted that King must be subject to lifelong monitoring to manage his future risk. For his actions on Foster Road, Portsmouth, and his subsequent criminal conduct, the court determined that an immediate custodial sentence was the only appropriate outcome. The prosecution reported that the successful conviction was due to the victim’s bravery in providing evidence despite the delays caused by the defendant’s attempts to avoid his court dates.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For his crimes in England, Wade Terry King was handed:
- Custodial Sentence: Seven and a half years in prison (7 years for rape, 6 months for weapon possession).
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements are in effect for life.
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Portsmouth Crown Court following a trial and a period as a fugitive.
Monitoring and Public Protection
King is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by Hampshire Constabulary and the prison estate. Due to the “violent” nature of the rape and the possession of an offensive weapon in Portsmouth, Hampshire, his management is subject to the highest level of oversight by the Public Protection Unit.
As a member of the Sex Offenders Register, King must comply with notification requirements regarding any residence in the Portsmouth area for the rest of his life. Authorities state that his history of failing to appear in court necessitates intense scrutiny of his movements and compliance upon his eventual release on licence. Any breach of his registration conditions or his licence terms will result in immediate arrest and a return to Portsmouth Crown Court.
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