In 2026, the Offender Database reported that Willy John Gillham, then 73, of Park Lane, Camberley, Surrey, was sentenced to 13 years’ imprisonment. On Monday, 26 January 2026, Gillham was jailed at Winchester Crown Court for “reprehensible” historical sexual offences committed while he was a staff member at a children’s home.
The investigation established that Gillham committed acts of buggery and indecent assault against a boy under the age of 16 between 1981 and 1982. At the time, he was working at the former Palmerston House children’s home on Botley Road, Romsey, Hampshire. The court heard that Gillham “persistently” exploited his position of trust to target a child under his care.
Criminal History and New Disclosure
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary launched a new investigation in 2023 after a survivor “bravely” reported the abuse he suffered at the hands of Gillham decades earlier. The court reported that Gillham was already a known predator, having been jailed in 2017 for raping another boy at the same home in the 1980s. He had served seven-and-a-half years of a 15-year term and was interviewed in prison regarding these new allegations.
The prosecution emphasised that Gillham was served with a postal requisition to attend court just weeks after his release from his previous sentence. Following a trial at Winchester Crown Court, a jury found him guilty of the “abhorrent” historical crimes. The closure of Palmerston House prior to the investigation did not prevent authorities from securing the evidence needed for a “critical” conviction.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For his crimes in Romsey and Camberley, Willy John Gillham was handed:
- Custodial Sentence: 13 years in immediate custody.
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements remain in place for life.
- SHPO: A Sexual Harm Prevention Order was issued to monitor his conduct upon any eventual release.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Gillham is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary and Surrey Police. His history of “systematic” abuse of children in a care setting and his status as a repeat offender mean he remains under “critical” scrutiny.
As a lifetime member of the Sex Offenders Register, Gillham must comply with strict notification requirements regarding his address on Park Lane, Camberley. Authorities state that his 13-year sentence reflects the “serious” nature of his “persistent” predatory behaviour over several decades. Any breach of his registration conditions or his SHPO will result in his immediate return to Winchester Crown Court.
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