In 2019, the Offender Database reported that Raymond Wheeler, then 61, formerly of Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire, was sentenced to 10 years and four months in prison. Wheeler, who had since moved to Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, was convicted of a “serious” and long-running campaign of sexual abuse against a young boy during the 1970s. The sentencing took place at Luton Crown Court following a “vicious” breach of trust that spanned several years.
The court heard horrendous details of how Wheeler used his position as a football coach to target the victim between 1976 and 1978. The boy, aged 12 to 14 at the time, was groomed under the guise of sports mentorship. Wheeler—who was then between 19 and 21 years old—would visit the victim’s home to discuss football before luring him back to his own property, where the sexual abuse began.
The prosecution emphasised that Wheeler utilised his vehicle to isolate the victim. He would offer lifts to the football team but “callously” arranged to drop the victim off last so they would be alone. The victim, who was 54 at the time of the 2019 sentencing, described how he had initially felt safe with Wheeler because he was being bullied by others, making the “vile” betrayal of trust even more damaging.
Wheeler pleaded guilty to three counts of indecent sexual assault and at least 10 occasions of inciting a boy to commit an act of gross indecency. In addition to his lengthy custodial sentence, the judge reported that Wheeler would be placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life. This ensures that even after his eventual release, his behaviour will be subject to permanent oversight by the authorities.
As a result of his “vicious” historic crimes, Raymond Wheeler is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by Hertfordshire Constabulary and Essex Police. This multi-agency framework is designed to monitor his activities in Leigh-on-Sea and prevent any further risk to children. Any attempt to contact the victim or engage in similar “vile” behaviour in the future will result in his immediate return to prison to serve the remainder of his sentence.
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