Nuneaton man found guilty of non-recent child sexual offences

A man has been found guilty of sexually abusing a child 30 years ago.

Last week, (Tuesday, 5 August), after a trial at Warwick Crown Court, William Proctor, 74, of Heath End Road, Nuneaton, was found guilty of four counts of rape and four counts of indecent assault on a child under the age of 16. He will be sentenced next month.

The abuse took place between 1991 and 1999, when the victim was between the ages of six and 13 years old.

Investigating officer DC Russell, of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), said: “Coming forward to disclose offences of this nature takes a huge amount of bravery. I want to thank the victim in this case for their strength and commitment throughout the course of the investigation, since its launch in 2023.

“The offences were a dreadful ordeal for a young child to have to go through when they should have been free to enjoy their childhood. By speaking out, even after so many years, they have made sure that Proctor is behind bars where he can’t hurt anyone else.

“I would like to stress that, as this case has shown, we take all reports of non-recent sexual abuse extremely seriously and will thoroughly investigate every report we receive, placing the victim's needs at the heart of the case, regardless of how long ago the offence(s) occurred.

“I would encourage anyone who has been a victim of sexual assault, or knows someone who has, to come forward and speak to us. We will listen to you, and we will investigate."

If you have been a victim of a sexual offence, you can report this in confidence either via the website, or by calling 101. Always call 999 in an emergency.

Further support is also available from independent charities and services including Safeline who offer free, independent and confidential support for anyone affected by or at risk of sexual abuse.

For more advice and where you can go for support, please visit: Rape, sexual assault and other sexual offences | Warwickshire Police

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