SHAME SHAME
EX-CABBIE FROM STOKE-ON-TRENT JAILED FOR 22 YEARS FOR RAPE OF TWO GIRLS
‘Sexual predator’ Paul James has been jailed for 22 years after being convicted of raping two young girls. According to the Stoke Sentinel, the 47-year-old ‘groomed and isolated’ his victims before carrying out various sex- ual offences against three individuals over the course of a decade. A jury found James guilty of six counts of rape and five counts of sexual assault following an eight-day trial at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court. Judge Paul Glenn has now handed James an extended sentence, after rul- ing that he is a dangerous offender. He will serve at least 12 years behind bars before being considered for parole, with an additional four years on licence.
Judge Glenn told the defendant: “You showed yourself as a sexual predator. You groomed and isolated victims. There’s significant risk to members of the public of serious harm, occasioned by your commission of further speci- fied offences. “For that reason, the appropriate sen- tence is an extended sentence of imprisonment.” The court heard that the first count of sexual assault was a ‘one-off’, with the victim only coming forward years later after hearing about other allegations against James. James, from Penkhull, subjected his second victim, who was aged under 16 at the time, to sexual assaults. He also raped her on two occasions. After the second rape, he told her ‘not to tell anyone’. The third victim, who was aged under 13, was also raped. All three victims gave personal state- ments, describing how their abuse had impacted on them physically, emotion- ally and mentally, with the effects such as anxiety and flashbacks lasting up to the present day. In her statement, the third victim said: “I lived for many years with high anxi-
JULY 2021
ety. I was fearful of him coming back to get me. If I saw a van like his it would trigger my fear. I became obsessed with checking the doors were locked. To this day I can’t sleep in the dark.” Paul Cliff, mitigating, said: “This case was well publicised before his trial, in the local media and on social media. He has been subject to abuse and threats
of assault from various people in the local community. But nobody else has come forward to make a complaint against him. “He is a hard-working man. He’s always worked since leaving school, mostly as a taxi driver, and in the last few years as a long-distance lorry driver.” In his sentencing remarks, Judge Glenn referred to the victims’ personal state- ments, particularly the statement from the third victim, who was the ‘most seriously affected’. He said: “The abuse has affected every intimate relationship she’s ever had. She speaks of three years of weekly counselling, of fear, anxiety, night- mares, flashbacks. She speaks of the effects of the trial, and the deeply trau- matic effect of giving evidence, and being left feeling vulnerable.”
ISLE OF WIGHT CABBIE WHO HARASSED CAFE WORKER GIVEN RESTRAINING ORDER
A Totland taxi driver found guilty of harassing a cafe worker, racking up 90 missed calls and as many texts in a whirlwind 24-hours, has been dealt a restraining order. According to the County Press, Ian Meadows appeared before the Isle of Wight Magistrates' Court on Monday 7 June. The 55-year-old was found guilty of harassment without violence follow- ing a trial. Prosecutor, Ann Smout, told the court that Meadows had been in a relation- ship with the victim, but she told him she wanted time and space. Mrs Smout said the following day, the victim received 90 missed calls from Meadows, and the same number of texts. She said the texts became awful, and the victim blocked his number. The court heard Meadows started turn- ing up at her place of work, and on one
occasion, followed her to her car. He even started calling customers at her place of work to talk about her, and spoke to fellow taxi drivers. She said the calls, texts and discussions with others amounted to harassment. Meadows, who represented himself, took full responsibility for the things he said. He said he accepted the relation- ship was over, and desperately wanted to put it all behind him. He asked magistrates for “latitude”, given he did not apply for legal aid. Meadows was sentenced to a 12-month community order, to include 15 rehabil- itation days and 60 hours of unpaid work. He was also made subject of a 12- month restraining order, and told not to contact the victim or go to her work- place. He was ordered to pay costs of £650 and a £95 surcharge.
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