A ‘predatory’ rapist who attacked a 12-year-old girl at Braunston Boat Show last year has been jailed for more than seven years.
James Bill, 29, befriended a mother and her daughter at the show. Northampton Crown Court heard Bill went for a walk in a field with the 12-year-old girl and, shortly after they had both laid on the floor to look at the trees, he attacked and raped her.
Jonathan Eley, prosecuting, said the girl initially did not tell her mother but later confided in one of her friends at school. Using DNA analysis, Mr Eley told the court that the girl’s underwear found a semen match that was a “one billion to one” match in favour of Bill.
Bill made no comment when interviewed but pleaded guilty at the first opportunity to raping a girl aged under 13. He was previously convicted of indecently assaulting three eight-year-old girls. Bill, from Surrey, was sentenced to seven years and three months in prison and an extra three years and nine months on licence. He will serve at least two thirds of his jail term.
Judge Rupert Mayo, sentencing, said: “This was a gross mistrust against this 12-year-old girl. You pose a significant risk of serious harm to children. I would describe this attack as predatory.”
Detective Constable Sharon Drage, who led the investigation, said: “This was an awful crime and we are very pleased to see the sentence handed out.”