JASON WATTS SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR CHILD RAPE IN SEMILONG, NORTHAMPTON

In a case that has shocked the Northampton community, Jason Watts, a 32-year-old man from the Semilong area, was sentenced to life imprisonment following his conviction for the abduction, assault, and rape of a 10-year-old girl. The incident, which took place on August 29 of the previous year, has left the victim’s family and the local community devastated.

Watts was caught after he snatched the young girl from a play area near her home in Northampton. He then took her to a residence on Arundel Street in Semilong, where he subjected her to a brutal assault. According to court reports, Watts punched the girl in the face, restrained her by covering her mouth, and threatened to strangle her, all before raping her. The horrifying ordeal lasted for at least two and a half hours, during which the girl endured unimaginable trauma.

Prior to the attack, Watts had engaged in grooming behavior, giving the girl’s brother a chocolate egg earlier that day. Later in the afternoon, he returned to the scene and abducted the girl, leading to a frantic police response. The victim was eventually found in Grafton Street, where Watts was arrested. Witnesses and police reports indicated that Watts was under the influence of alcohol at the time, and he refused to cooperate with DNA testing, providing no answers to police inquiries.

During the court proceedings, Watts showed no visible emotion and sat quietly in the dock, flanked by security guards. He had previously admitted to charges of kidnapping and rape on November 8, despite claiming to have no memory of the events. The court heard that the attack occurred in a shared house owned by the charity CAN, which supports those affected by drug, alcohol, and homelessness issues. The assault was only interrupted when another resident disturbed Watts.

Prosecutor Matthew Lowe described the attack as a “deliberate and heinous act,” emphasizing the brutality of Watts’s actions. He recounted how Watts began counting to five before punching the girl, causing her head to hit a wall, and then pulling her hair to prevent her from leaving. Watts also threatened to strangle her, illustrating the severity of his violence.

Judge Michael Fowler sentenced Watts to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of seven years and two months before he can be considered for parole. The judge described Watts’s actions as demonstrating an “inconceivable level of evil,” especially given that Watts is a father himself. The court also noted the grooming of both the girl and her brother, highlighting Watts’s predatory behavior.

The victim’s family displayed remarkable dignity during the proceedings, remaining in the public gallery despite the distressing testimony. They have since moved away from their previous address to escape the trauma. Watts will be registered on the Sex Offenders Register for life and is prohibited from any contact with children under 16. His case underscores the ongoing concerns about child safety and the devastating impact of such heinous crimes on victims and their families.