ASHLEY WELLER SENTENCED IN STANWELL FOR GROOMING AND SEXUAL ASSAULT ON 13-YEAR-OLD

In a case that has shocked the community of Stanwell, a young man named Ashley Weller was sentenced to three years in prison for his involvement in grooming and assaulting a 13-year-old girl. The incident took place near a set of abandoned flats in Stanwell, a location that has become synonymous with this disturbing case.

On Friday, August 30, at Guildford Crown Court, the court heard detailed accounts of Weller’s actions. The 19-year-old, residing on Deridene Close in Stanwell, was found guilty of engaging in sexually explicit communications with the young girl and subsequently pressuring her into meeting him for sexual activity. The court was informed that the exchanges between Weller and the girl involved highly explicit messages, including the sending of a photograph of Weller’s genitals via a BlackBerry messaging service.

Judge Suzan Matthews presided over the case and listened to the evidence that revealed the extent of Weller’s premeditation. It was noted that Weller had spent several days prior to the incident exchanging these explicit messages with the girl, which escalated to a physical encounter in a concrete stairwell of a block of flats in Stanwell on August 25 of the previous year. The judge emphasized the psychological harm inflicted upon the young victim, who was only 13 at the time.

During the court proceedings, Weller, who appeared in the dock wearing a blue polo shirt, admitted to having sexual activity with a minor under the age of 16. Initially, he faced a charge of raping the girl, which he denied. However, just before the trial was set to commence—an event that would have required the girl and her parents to testify—Weller changed his plea and admitted to the sexual activity charge. This plea led directly to the sentencing phase of the case.

The prosecution, represented by Oscar Del Fabbro, highlighted the disturbing nature of the messages exchanged, describing them as “decidedly explicit.” He also revealed that Weller had sent a photograph of his genitals to the girl, underscoring the level of planning involved in the offense. The court considered this premeditation as an aggravating factor in Weller’s sentencing.

Defense attorney Mark Butler expressed remorse on behalf of Weller, stating that his client was deeply sorry and acknowledging that his actions would have a lasting impact on his life. The judge, in her summing-up, addressed Weller directly, reminding him that he was fully aware of the girl’s age. She pointed out that the explicit messages sent via BlackBerry quickly became intimate and inappropriate, culminating in the physical act in the desolate flats.

Judge Matthews described how Weller took the girl to a semi-abandoned building and engaged in sexual activity on a concrete floor. After the act, Weller left the scene, but the girl, feeling worried and realizing she had not used contraception, feared she might become pregnant. The court was also informed that Weller had previous convictions for possession of a blade and criminal damage. His recent offense constituted a breach of his conditional discharge, but the judge decided not to impose additional penalties for this breach.

Weller was sentenced to three years in prison, with an expectation that he would serve approximately half of that term. The court did not see fit to impose a Sexual Offences Prevention Order, nor were any costs awarded in this case. The case has left a lasting impression on the community of Stanwell, highlighting the dangers of online grooming and the importance of safeguarding vulnerable minors.