JASON WATTS FROM NORTHAMPTON AND SEMILONG SENTENCED FOR HORRIFIC CHILD ABUSE

In a case that has shocked the Northampton community, Jason Watts, a 32-year-old man with a troubling criminal history, was convicted of abducting and raping a 10-year-old girl in Northampton and Semilong. The incident, which took place on August 29, 2013, is being described as one of the most heinous crimes involving a child in recent memory.

Watts, who is also a father, carried out his sinister act near his own neighborhood in Northampton. The young girl was playing with her friends outside her home when Watts, acting with predatory intent, snatched her. The abduction occurred in broad daylight, causing immediate alarm among local residents and her family. The girl was then taken to a house located on Arundel Street in the Semilong area, where Watts subjected her to a brutal assault that lasted for at least two and a half hours.

Prior to the abduction, Watts had engaged in grooming behavior earlier that day. He had given the girl’s brother a chocolate egg, an act often used by predators to gain trust and lower the child's defenses. Later in the afternoon, Watts returned and forcibly took the girl, leading to a terrifying ordeal that would leave lasting scars.

During the attack, Watts physically assaulted the girl, punching her in the face and causing her head to hit a wall. He then restrained her by covering her mouth with his hand and threatened to strangle her if she tried to escape. The court heard that Watts’s actions were deliberate and calculated, with the assault only ending when another resident of the house disturbed him. The victim’s family and witnesses described the scene as deeply distressing, with some members leaving the courtroom in tears due to the graphic details of the case.

Watts, who appeared in court dressed in a disheveled manner with a long, unkempt beard, showed no visible emotion during the proceedings. He sat in the dock flanked by five security guards, reflecting the seriousness of his crimes. Despite admitting to charges of kidnapping and rape on November 8, Watts claimed to have no memory of the attack, a statement that the judge found difficult to believe.

The Northampton Crown Court heard that the house where the assault took place was a shared residence owned by the charity CAN, which provides support for individuals dealing with drug, alcohol, and homelessness issues. The attack only ceased when another resident intervened, disturbing Watts and ending his assault.

Prosecutor Matthew Lowe described the attack in harrowing detail, emphasizing Watts’s violent behavior. 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, a clear indication of his intent to harm her physically and psychologically.

Further details revealed that Watts had been drinking alcohol at the time of his arrest. He refused to cooperate with DNA testing and did not respond to police questions, displaying a lack of remorse. His criminal record includes twenty previous convictions for violence, dishonesty, and possession of Class A drugs, highlighting a pattern of dangerous behavior.

During mitigation, defense lawyer Matthew Kirk acknowledged Watts’s guilty plea and expressed remorse, though the court noted the gravity of his actions. Judge Michael Fowler sentenced Watts to life imprisonment with a minimum term of seven years and two months. The judge described the crimes as “horrific in themselves,” emphasizing the “inconceivable level of evil” demonstrated by Watts, especially given that he is a parent himself.

Judge Fowler also highlighted the grooming behavior Watts engaged in, observing that he had been watching the children in the park near their home before abducting the girl. The judge expressed skepticism about Watts’s claim of amnesia regarding the attack, considering the evidence and the victim’s impact statement, which was described as harrowing.

The victim’s family displayed remarkable dignity during the proceedings, remaining in the courtroom throughout and subsequently moving out of their address for safety reasons. The court also ordered that Watts be placed on the Sex Offender Register for life and banned from any contact with children under 16. The minimum term of his sentence is the earliest point at which he can be considered for parole, but he will not be released if he is deemed a continued risk to the public.