Admin l Friday, May 28, 2021
LONDON – David Wilson(37), a serial online sex predator has now has to spend up to 28 years in jail, following the conclusion by Appeal Court that his initial sentence of 25 years be increased by three years.
The Court of Appeal presided over by Lord Justice Holroyde ruled that Wilson should not have been given a full one third credit for his guilty pleas as no indications were made in the magistrates’ court that he would plead guilty. The court concluded Wilson’s sentence should be increased to 28 years.
In February labourer David Wilson, 37, was sentenced to 25 years in jail after he admitted 96 sex offences against 52 boys aged from 4- 14 between May 2016 and April 2020.
Wilson approached more than 5,000 boys worldwide pretending to be teenage girls – principally on Facebook – and blackmailed some victims into abusing younger siblings or friends and sending him the footage. The National Crime Agency described him as one of the most prolific child sexual abuse (CSA) offenders ever investigated.
According to the agency, Wilson, of Norfolk, terrorised his young victims who were terrified and felt they had no choice but to do what he demanded. Some were so traumatised they spoke of wanting to end their lives.
Wilson was originally sentenced at Ipswich Crown Court by Judge Rupert Overbury. He told Wilson: “You demonstrated a complete and utter disregard for every child you manipulated irrespective of their age. There was a sadistic element to your offending including blackmail and a relentless targeting of vulnerable children who often pleaded for mercy.
“You are in my judgment an extremely dangerous individual who has a perverted and sadistic sexual interest in young boys. On the facts presented to the court you can properly be described as a serial paedophile”, he told Wilson.
Using unregistered phones, Wilson scoured social media sites for vulnerable victims to deceive young boys into believing they were talking to a teenage girl.
Wilson was said to have created a spider’s web of fake girls’ identities. He sent them sexual images of young women from the internet in exchange for the boys sending him videos and images of themselves. He built up trust with his victims before blackmailing them into sending him more extreme footage of themselves – and in some cases, of them abusing younger siblings or friends.
“On some occasions Wilson then distributed the images to victims’ friends”, the NCA said.
Tony Cook, NCA Head of CSA operations, said previously: “David Wilson has absolutely devastated not only his victims but the families they belong to. He has caused heart-breaking suffering and huge disruption to the lives of those he targeted from the problems his abuse caused.
“Wilson preyed on their vulnerability. They genuinely believed they were talking to a teenage girl who was interested in them. He groomed, bullied and blackmailed young boys into sending him indecent images and in some instances performing horrific abuse on themselves and others. Despite knowing their utter anguish and despair he ignored their pleas for him to stop.
“He retained indecent material and threatened to share it among victims’ friends so he could maintain control of them. Sadly there are many offenders out there like Wilson who use the internet to hide their real identities, using convincing personas to groom children”, he said.
Tony Cook called on parents to speak with their children about who they communicate with online and what they share. “People need to understand this can happen to anyone. Many boys’ parents in this case spoke of their disbelief that their children had become victims. It’s vital children know they can turn to a parent or trusted adult for help without blame.“I commend the victims’ bravery and their families for helping us put Wilson in jail.”
