JAMES SUMMERS FROM DIDCOT SENTENCED TO ADDITIONAL SEVEN YEARS FOR CHILD RAPE AT OXFORD CROWN COURT

In a significant development in a long-standing case of child sexual abuse, James Summers, a man aged 83 and a resident of Didcot, has been sentenced to an additional seven years in prison for heinous crimes committed against two young girls. Summers, who was already serving an 18-year sentence for previous offenses, was brought back to court after a week-long trial at Oxford Crown Court, where he was found guilty of multiple counts of child rape and indecent assault.

The court proceedings revealed that Summers was convicted of two counts of raping a girl under the age of 14, as well as two counts of indecent assault on another girl under 14. The incidents involving the first victim occurred between June 14, 1999, and June 14, 2000, while the assaults on the second victim took place between July 27, 1995, and July 27, 1996. These crimes spanned over several years, highlighting a disturbing pattern of abuse.

Detective Constable Tania Wasilewski-Norman, who is part of the Cowley Child Abuse Investigation Unit, provided insight into the case, emphasizing the betrayal of trust involved. She stated, “He was previously well known in the area for his work in the Salvation Army but used that position of trust to gain access to his young victims and subsequently sexually abused them.”

Wasilewski-Norman also commended the victims for their bravery, saying, “Both of the victims in this case, who are now adults, have shown great bravery in coming forward and I commend them for this. It does not matter how long ago offences took place; we will always listen to victims and deal with what they have to say sensitively.”

Summers' criminal history includes a prior conviction in 2012, when he was jailed for similar offenses. Today’s sentencing saw Summers receive seven years for each of the rape counts, to run concurrently, and two years for each of the indecent assault charges, also to run concurrently. This means he will serve a total of seven years for the recent convictions, adding to his existing sentence.

Summers' history of offending dates back to the 1980s, when he was a volunteer with the Salvation Army in Oxfordshire. During that period, he was accused of raping three girls under the age of 10, with the abuse reportedly beginning after lifts home from band practice. His criminal activities persisted into the early 2000s, where he was convicted of repeatedly raping an eight-year-old girl. The court heard that Summers insisted the victims called him “Uncle Jim,” a term that underscores the manipulative nature of his relationships with the children.

Judge Jane Mowat, who presided over the case, described Summers as “someone who could properly be described as a paedophile predator,” reflecting the severity of his actions and the danger he posed to children. Summers faced multiple charges, including 13 counts of rape, one attempted rape, and four counts of indecent assault, all of which he denied during the proceedings.

Following the convictions, a spokesman for the Salvation Army issued a statement reaffirming their commitment to child protection. The organization stated, “We take child protection very seriously. As soon as these allegations were brought to our attention, we looked into it immediately, co-operating with the police and removing Mr Summers from all acting positions during the police investigation.” The Salvation Army also expressed their “prayers and heartfelt sympathies” to the victims, emphasizing their support and concern for those affected by Summers’ actions.