Press release

Worcester rapist has sentence increased

James Boyles has had his sentence increased following intervention by the Solicitor General, Rt Hon Michael Ellis QC MP.

Worcester rapist has sentence increased

A man who raped a sleeping woman has had his sentence increased following intervention by the Solicitor General, Rt Hon Michael Ellis QC MP.

James Boyles, 69, raped the same victim on a number of occasions while she was sleeping and filmed the assaults.

When police searched his computer, they found that Boyles had filmed another woman while she slept using a hidden camera. Police also found that Boyles had downloaded and made several indecent images of children.

Boyles was convicted of 15 sexual offences and was sentenced to 4 years’ imprisonment and given a sexual harm prevention order on 8 September 2020 at Worcester Crown Court.

Following a referral to the Court of Appeal by the Solicitor General, on 1 December the sentence was found to be unduly lenient and has been increased to 6 years’ imprisonment.

Speaking after the hearing, the Solicitor General said:

The sickening behaviour of the offender should be met with the full force of the law. The Court of Appeal has rightly increased his sentence.

Published 2 December 2020