Jul 14 - Sexual Predator Who Raped Nine Year Old Jailed
A sexual predator who subjected a nine-year-old girl to a horrific campaign of rape, abuse and assault over a period of six years was today jailed for 18 years at the Supreme Court.
James George Bell, 48, of Laguna Estate, also took and kept almost 150 indecent photographs of his young victim.
While sentencing today, the Chief Justice Anthony Dudley said the defendant had set out on a campaign of “horrific” sexual and psychological abuse, pointing out that the victim could have been raped and abused anywhere between 80 or more than 300 times between 2009 and April last year.
Bell, flanked by two Prison Officers, remained impassive as the details of the case were read out in court.
Bell initially faced a total of 25 charges after his arrest in July last year. He pleaded guilty to 12 charges involving a “Miss Y” relating to incidents which took place between April 2009 and April 2015 and which included rape, sexual assault, and causing or encouraging or assisting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity.
He also pleaded guilty to three separate counts of possession of indecent images of children found on a laptop and digital camera in July last year, including one count of the possession of 331 category C images, one count of possession of one category A image (the most serious) and one count of taking 146 indecent photos of a child, namely the victim.
Bell denied his involvement in 10 further historical counts involving rape, sexual assault, and causing or encouraging or assisting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity in relation to another alleged victim known simply as “Miss X”. These charges are being kept on file but were not proceeded with in light of his guilty plea for the other offences.
Prosecutor Robert Fischel QC said the defendant would go into the victim’s room and abuse her, and threatened to use violence against her or her mother if she ever said anything.
The police were only made aware of this after the victim’s mother informed the police she thought her daughter was being sexually assaulted by Bell.
When officers first spoke to the victim, she appeared to be “withdrawn” and distressed, and her hair was falling out due to stress. She was taken to hospital for examination but no DNA was found as some days had elapsed since the latest incident although evidence suggested she was sexually active.
Appearing for his client, Francis Borastero-Porter said Bell had shown deep regret and remorse and had sought counseling while in custody.
In his sentencing judgment, the Chief Justice said the victim had been particularly vulnerable and that these events would have an impact on the rest of her life.
A sexual offences protection order was also approved, and all electronic equipment used for the taking and storage of the indecent images has been forfeited.
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