In 2026, a 26-year-old former local politician and cadet leader was convicted of rape and a comprehensive series of child sexual exploitation offences at Ipswich Crown Court after abusing his position of authority over young boys.
Rylan Ray, residing at Westgate, Peterborough, stood trial facing multiple counts following a major investigation by Cambridgeshire Constabulary. Ray had formerly served as a Peterborough city councillor and held prominent roles within youth organisations, including serving as a detachment commander in the Army Cadet Force (ACF) and working within the Combined Cadet Force (CCF) at both Stanground Academy and Nene Park Academy in Peterborough.
The prosecution outlined that Ray systematically abused his professional status to access and groom young boys. Ray initially established contact with cadets on WhatsApp under the pretense of organising official cadet duties and logistical commitments, avoiding suspicion from parents. He subsequently transitioned communications to the social media application Snapchat, where the dialogue became sexually explicit.
To facilitate his exploitation, Ray created and operated a fictitious online profile under the guise of a teenage girl named “Chelsie”. Ray utilised this manufactured identity to extract intimate images from young boys. Forensic examiners traced the fraudulent account directly to Ray after a voice telephone call initiated by a victim to “Chelsie” was answered by Ray himself. Further inquiries matched the IP address associated with a second fake profile to Ray’s residential flat. Digital examinations of his personal mobile devices uncovered images of the “Chelsie” persona, the associated Snapchat application icons, and intimate photographs from six different victims that had solely been transmitted to the fake accounts.
The court also heard evidence that Ray told a 16-year-old boy whom he met on nights out that, due to his status as a Peterborough licensing officer, he could secure the youth entry into licensed nightclubs without identity verification.
The systematic offending against 11 separate victims was brought to the attention of authorities in May 2025. Parents submitted formal complaints to the ACF after attending two 16th birthday parties held at the residential flat Ray shared with another cadet leader, citing inappropriate behaviour and underage drinking. Subsequent inquiries by safeguarding teams resulted in multiple children disclosing that Ray had engaged in sexual communications and carried out physical sexual assaults.
Following his arrest in May 2025, Ray submitted a prepared statement claiming that while he may have engaged in “unwise” discussions, they were devoid of sexual intent, adding that allegations had “ruined his career”. During subsequent interviews, Ray admitted receiving topless photographs of a child, sending an image of his own genitalia to a young boy, and transmitting pornography to the youth.
Following public media reporting of initial charges, an adult victim contacted police to disclose that Ray had subjected him to rape following a social gathering in Peterborough in 2019.
Prior to trial proceedings, Ray pleaded guilty to two counts of causing or inciting a boy aged 13 to 15 to engage in sexual activity and one count of causing a child aged 13 to 15 to view an image of sexual activity. Mid-trial, he admitted two further counts of making indecent photographs of children.
Following a 24-day contested trial at Ipswich Crown Court that commenced on 5 October, the jury returned guilty verdicts across 23 additional offences:
One count of rape of a man aged 16 or over
One count of engaging in non-penetrative sexual activity with a boy aged 13 to 15
Five counts of engaging in sexual communication with a child
Five counts of causing a child aged 13 to 15 to watch or look at an image of sexual activity
Three counts of sexual assault
Three counts of causing or inciting a boy aged 13 to 15 to engage in non-penetrative sexual activity
One count of causing or inciting a boy aged 13 to 15 to engage in penetrative sexual activity
Three counts of making indecent photographs of a child
One count of possessing an extreme pornographic image portraying rape
The trial judge remanded Ray in custody. Sentencing proceedings will take place at Ipswich Crown Court on 8 January.
Image – Anonymous Artist Impression
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