JAMES MCCLENNON FROM WITTERING SENTENCED FOR CHILD RAPE IN PETERBOROUGH

In a case that has shocked the local community, James McClennon, a 62-year-old resident of Manor Close in Wittering, has been sentenced to nearly two decades behind bars for heinous crimes involving a young child. The court proceedings concluded on a Wednesday, with McClennon receiving a prison term of 17 years after being convicted on multiple serious charges.

McClennon was found guilty of two counts of raping a child under the age of 13 and three counts of indecent assault on a girl under 14. The allegations stem from incidents that took place in Peterborough, where the abuse reportedly began in 1997. The victim, who was between 10 and 12 years old at the time, endured the abuse for approximately two years before finally coming forward.

The court heard that it took the victim over a decade to summon the courage to report the abuse to authorities. She was reportedly manipulated by McClennon, who convinced her that her allegations would not be believed and that the abuse was a secret they shared. This manipulation and the trauma inflicted on her caused a long delay in seeking justice.

During the trial, it was revealed that McClennon used sleeping pills on two separate occasions to drug his young victim before assaulting her. Despite denying all charges, McClennon was convicted after a thorough trial process. The sentencing reflects the severity of his crimes and the impact on the victim, who had to wait many years before her voice was finally heard in court.