DARREN WOOLLER DOWNHAM MARKET MAN SENTENCED FOR HORRIFIC SEX CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN

In February 2013, a disturbing case emerged from Downham Market involving Darren Wooller, a 39-year-old man whose actions have been described by a judge as an 'appalling catalogue of behaviour.' Wooller was sentenced to a lengthy prison term of 15 years and was ordered to be placed on the sex offender’s register for life, following his conviction on multiple serious charges involving the sexual abuse of minors.

Wooller, residing on Railway Road in Downham Market, faced charges that included the rape of a 10-year-old girl and a series of nine sexual assaults committed against boys and girls. The youngest victim was only five years old at the time of the abuse. The victims included two boys and four girls, all under the age of 16, with the offences spanning from May 2004 to February 2009. These crimes painted a grim picture of sustained abuse over several years, highlighting the severity and depravity of Wooller’s actions.

Throughout the trial at Norwich Crown Court, Wooller maintained his innocence, claiming that he had been 'set up.' However, after a three-week trial, the jury found him guilty on all counts. The presiding judge, Mark Lucraft, did not hold back in his condemnation, describing Wooller as a 'thoroughly unpleasant man and bully' who had carried out assaults on six children over a two-year period from 2004 to 2006. The judge emphasized that Wooller’s actions constituted a 'catalogue of appalling behaviour and sex abuse,' leaving the victims still struggling to come to terms with the trauma inflicted upon them.

Judge Lucraft further noted that a report classified Wooller as being at 'high risk' of causing serious harm to children, underscoring the danger he posed. In addition to the prison sentence, Wooller was subjected to a sexual offences prevention order, which prohibits him from having any unsupervised contact with children under 16. Furthermore, he was banned for life from working with children, reflecting the court’s determination to prevent any future harm.

During the sentencing hearing, Wooller’s defense attorney, Charles Langley, expressed that Wooller still did not accept his guilt and argued that any sentence would be particularly hard on Wooller’s elderly parents. Langley stated, 'They have been finding this very hard indeed knowing they will lose their son for some time,' and added that Wooller 'will come out a very different person to that who went in.'

Norfolk police’s Vulnerable People Directorate, led by Detective Constable Debbie Payne, played a crucial role in the investigation. Payne commented on the case, saying, 'For Wooller to receive such a sentence demonstrates the seriousness of his crime and his depravity.' She praised the bravery of the victims in coming forward, especially considering the crimes were committed years earlier. Payne emphasized that, despite the historical nature of the investigation, Wooller’s actions would have lasting effects on the victims and assured the public that law enforcement would continue to pursue perpetrators vigorously to safeguard children now and in the future.