Locations
Frampton Cotterell, Gloucestershire
Description
A man who sexually abused a boy, and filmed himself doing so, had another dark secret. It transpired when William Chamberlain was a teenager he raped a little girl.
Chamberlain, 24, of Frampton Cotterell, pleaded guilty to three rapes of a child aged under-13. He also admitted sexual assault of a boy aged under-13 and making an indecent video of a child
Judge William Hart jailed him for seven-and-a-half years. The judge told Chamberlain: "You pleaded guilty to all matters. The damage to your victims is likely to be long-lived and permanent. That is something for which you are responsible."
Chamberlain was handed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order designed to stop him from reoffending. He was also ordered to notify his whereabouts to police indefinitely, given a restraining order to have no contact with the two complainants and was barred from working with children and vulnerable adults. His phone with the indecent footage on was destroyed.
Nikki Coombe, prosecuting, told Bristol Crown Court Chamberlain was aged in his mid-teens when he repeatedly raped a girl half his age, telling her: "You haven't told anyone, have you, its our secret". The child told her family and, ultimately, the matter was reported to police.
Chamberlain was arrested, told officers "I messed up" and declined to comment in interview. Police also established that, years later, Chamberlain sexually abused a ten-year-old boy after officers found a video of the abuse on Chamberlain's phone. Once again Chamberlain declined to comment when interviewed.
The court heard the Sentencing Guidelines Council starting point for Chamberlain sexually abusing the boy was lower then it was for Chamberlain filming the abuse. Barry White, defending, said: "The most important thing I can say to (the victims) is he is truly sorry. The pre-sentence report makes it plain he does take full responsibility for his disgusting behaviours."
Mr White said that, as a teenager, his client was limited in intelligent functioning. He said references from his family described Chamberlain as a "gentle, kind and helpful young man".
Detective Inspector Louise Catlin said: Chamberlain subjected his victims to sickening levels of abuse and was left with very little option but to plead guilty given the volume of evidence against him. He fully merited the prison sentence he received today and it has come about thanks to the dedication and hard work of officers, including DS Mike Banks and DC Francesca Hepburn.
The victims in the case have shown incredible fortitude throughout this legal process and we are grateful for the support of them and their families. No sentence the judge could hand out would make up for what they have been through, but hopefully the knowledge Chamberlain has been jailed for the monstrous crimes he committed provides them with some comfort.
It cannot be underestimated how emotionally difficult it is for sexual abuse victims to come forward and to report what has happened to them. To open up and trust anyone with details about the most distressing and horrific moment or moments of your life is a very significant psychological step to take. We fully understand that and we hope cases such as this one give confidence to victims that they will be believed, their case will be taken seriously and we will leave no stone unturned as we seek to get justice for them.