A former Butlins redcoat who lured two schoolboys

A former Butlins redcoat who lured two schoolboys back to his
home and indecently assaulted them was jailed for two and a
half years on Friday.

William Willis, 58, would take the youngsters back to his flat to
show them porno videos, and give them alcohol and cigarettes,
Snaresbrook Crown Court was told.

Last year Judge Andrew Brooks had branded Willis a ‘danger to
young boys’ but had adjourned the case several times for psychiatric
reports to be completed.

Judge Brooks jailed Willis for 30 months – concurrent on each
charge he admitted – after he was found to be unsuitable for a sex
offenders’ scheme.

Willis, who lived at Whalebone Lane North, Romford, at the time,
later moved to Ramsay Road, Forest Gatep, after his arrest.

He pleaded guilty to four specimen charges of indecent assault
between July and November 1990.

During July of 1990 Willis had become friendly with one of the
boys, then aged 14, who was going to school in the Romford area, said
Mr Colin Mendoza, prosecuting.

‘There came a time when he visited the defendant’s home.

He was
given a can of beer and some cigarttes.

‘
Counsel explained that on the first occasion, Willis touched the
inside of the boy’s legs and his private parts.

But several days later, Willis ‘went further’ and removed items
of the lad’s clothing and indulged in serious acts of indecency, said
Mr Mendoza.

It was revealed that there had been some 10 similar instances
with that one youngster.

The court heard that another 14-year-old from the same school
became involved in acts of indecency with Willis, although to a lesser
extent.

On several occasions they were both invited back to his flat and
given alcohol and cigarettes.

‘A pornographic vidoe was switched on while this was going on,’
said counsel.

On November 2 last year similar acts took place at Willis’s
flat between him and the two boys, but four days later he was arrested
after one of the boys told his parents.

Although Willis allegedly told police that he knew they were 14,
he later claimed he thought they were about 18.

‘He said he would not have done it, if he knew their age,’ said
Mr Mendoza.

Willis denied ever forcing either of them into sex acts,
and said that they were ‘willing.

‘
The court heard that he was of good previous good character and
had worked in entertainment as an ‘honorary redcoat’ at Butlins for 23
years.

Mr Mark Dacey, defending, said that Willis, who has a very low IQ
and a mental age of 11, ‘knew what he was doing was wrong.

‘
‘There was no excuse for him taking advantage of them in this
way.

‘
Mr Dacey said that Willis might have been ‘egged on’ by the
youngsters.

ENDS