William Clay, aged 20, formerly of Grantham, Lincolnshire, has been sentenced to an extended determinate sentence of 16 years at Lincoln Crown Court after being convicted of multiple rapes, physical attacks, and strangulation offences against two child victims.
The series of offences occurred at locations across Lincolnshire between 2024 and 2026. During earlier court appearances, Clay entered guilty pleas to three separate counts of rape, one count of intentional strangulation, and two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm against one child. He also entered a guilty plea to the possession of indecent images of children.
Clay denied an additional charge of raping a second child victim, forcing the case to a full Crown Court trial in August. Following nine days of evidence, the jury dismissed his claims and returned a guilty verdict on the contested rape count.
Under UK legislation, all victims of sexual offences are protected by lifelong statutory anonymity.
At the sentencing hearing on Friday at Lincoln Crown Court, sitting at Lincoln Magistrates’ Court, the judge determined that Clay satisfied the legal criteria for dangerousness under the Criminal Justice Act 2003, concluding that he posed a significant risk of causing serious harm through further specified offending.
The court imposed an extended sentence of 16 years, comprising an immediate custodial term of 11 years in prison and an extended licence period of five years.
Because Clay received an extended sentence for serious sexual violence, automatic release provisions do not apply. Clay will be required to serve at least two-thirds of his 11-year custodial term in closed prison conditions before his case can be referred to the Parole Board for consideration. He will only be discharged if parole judges determine that his risk can be safely managed in the community. Once released, he will remain subject to licence conditions and supervision for the rest of the 11-year term alongside the entire five-year extension period.
The court also imposed a lifetime restraining order prohibiting Clay from making contact with his victims, a 16-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, and mandatory notification requirements on the Sex Offenders Register.
Image – Anonymous Artist Impression
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