In 2019, the Offender Database recorded that 72-year-old Delena Wells was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years in prison for a series of historic sexual assaults against young boys. Following a trial at Bristol Crown Court, the defendant—of Carterton, Oxfordshire—was found guilty of seven counts of indecent assault. It was reported that Wells, described by the prosecution as a predatory and manipulative sexual predator, used alcohol and cigarettes to groom her victims while she was living in Clevedon, North Somerset, during the 1980s.
The investigation established that Wells targeted boys under the age of 16, plied them with cider and Special Brew, and used psychological manipulation to ensure their silence. Avon and Somerset Police reported that one victim was told he would be the one sent to prison if he ever spoke out, a threat he believed as a young child. The prosecution reported that sexual activity occurred on potentially hundreds of occasions with one victim, while a second independent complainant was molested on a sofa after being given heavy lager.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Wells’ behaviour had a devastating and haunting impact on her victims well into their adult lives. Bristol Crown Court heard how Wells attempted to discredit the first victim by branding him a “delusionary fantasist” during her police interview. The investigation established that a second victim came forward independently, detailing how Wells made inappropriate comments about “frigid” women before performing sexual acts on him, an experience that left him physically sick.
Donald Tait, prosecuting, presided over the evidence which unmasked Wells as a woman who, in her 40s, actively hunted for young male victims. For her actions in North Somerset and Oxfordshire, Wells was handed a significant custodial term in late 2019. The judge noted that despite 30 years passing since the crimes, the evidence—including the testimony of a victim’s wife who described the lasting psychological “quietness” caused by the abuse—was compelling enough to secure a conviction.
Status and Statutory Requirements
For the crimes reported in England, the status of Delena Wells as of March 31, 2026, was as follows:
- Custodial Sentence: 8 years and 6 months (Sentenced 2019; released on licence in 2023/2024).
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements are active for life.
- SHPO Status: Sexual Harm Prevention Order active indefinitely.
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Bristol Crown Court, following an Avon and Somerset Police investigation.
- Criminal Record: Indecent assault on a child (7 counts).
- Origin: Carterton, Oxfordshire; offences committed in Clevedon, North Somerset.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Wells is managed as a high-risk Category 1 female predator within the Oxfordshire area. Due to the nature of her conduct, which involved the systemic grooming of children using addictive substances and the use of extreme psychological threats to maintain silence, her management is a maximum priority. Authorities state that her history of predatory focus on young boys requires the most intensive level of monitoring by the Thames Valley Police Public Protection Unit.
As a registered sex offender for life, Wells’ details are permanently logged on the national police database. Authorities state that her behaviour demonstrated a clear and damaging sexual interest in children that persisted over many years. Any failure to comply with her notification requirements, any attempt to contact her survivors, or any presence near schools or youth groups in Carterton, Witney, or Clevedon will result in immediate arrest to ensure the ongoing safety of the community and the protection of the public from a confirmed child abuser.
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