RAYMOND WHEELER FROM BISHOP’S STORTFORD AND LEIGH-ON-SEA SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS FOR SEXUAL ABUSE

In a case that has shocked the local communities of Bishop’s Stortford and Leigh-on-Sea, Raymond Wheeler, aged 61, has been handed a substantial prison sentence of ten years and four months for his involvement in the sexual abuse of a young boy during the late 1970s. The sentencing took place at Luton Crown Court on Friday, March 15, following Wheeler’s guilty plea to multiple charges.

Wheeler, who was 19 to 21 years old at the time of the offences, was accused of abusing a boy aged between 12 and 14 years old, with the incidents occurring between 1976 and 1978. The victim, now 54, came forward to authorities, revealing the disturbing details of how Wheeler exploited his position as a football coach to groom and sexually assault him.

The court heard that Wheeler, then a young coach working for a local football club, initially established contact with the victim by visiting his home to discuss football-related matters. This seemingly innocent interaction gradually escalated as Wheeler arranged for the boy to visit his own residence, which marked the beginning of the abuse. The victim recounted that Wheeler’s visits often involved giving him and his teammates lifts in his vehicle, with Wheeler dropping the victim off last. The young boy described feeling a sense of safety during these rides, as he was also dealing with bullying at school, which made Wheeler’s seemingly friendly gestures more confusing and manipulative.

During the court proceedings, it was revealed that Wheeler had incited the boy to commit acts of gross indecency on at least ten separate occasions, in addition to the three counts of indecent sexual assault. Wheeler’s actions not only betrayed the trust placed in him as a coach but also inflicted lasting trauma on the victim.

As part of his sentence, Wheeler will be registered on the sex offenders’ register for life, a measure that underscores the severity of his crimes. Currently residing in Leigh-on-Sea, Wheeler’s conviction serves as a stark reminder of the importance of safeguarding vulnerable individuals and the devastating impact of abuse by those in positions of authority.