Nigel Welland

Nigel Welland, a 62-year-old resident of Lancaster Road in Maidenhead, was sentenced to 14 years in prison at Reading Crown Court on Friday, 13 February 2015, following his conviction on eight serious sexual offences against three underage victims.

The trial, held at the same court, concluded with Welland being found guilty of raping a girl, for which he received the primary 14-year custodial sentence. He was also convicted on six counts of causing a child to engage in sexual activity and one count of sexual activity with a child, each carrying an eight-year sentence to run concurrently with the rape conviction. All offences occurred in Maidenhead, Berkshire, within the jurisdiction of Thames Valley Police.

Welland was acquitted of several additional charges, including another count of raping a girl, causing or inciting a girl into sexual activity, sexual activity with a child, causing or inciting a girl into sexual activity, three charges of sexually assaulting a girl, and one count of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child. Despite these acquittals, the convictions underscored a pattern of predatory behaviour towards underage girls.

• Primary conviction: Rape of a girl – 14 years imprisonment.
• Six counts: Causing a child to engage in sexual activity – 8 years each, concurrent.
• One count: Sexual activity with a child – 8 years, concurrent.

In addition to his prison term, Welland was ordered to sign the sex offenders' register for life and received a ban from working with children. The case was reported by the Maidenhead Advertiser on 26 February 2015, highlighting the severity of child sex offences in the local community. No direct quotes from the trial or victims were available in the public reporting, but the sentencing reflects the court's recognition of the profound harm caused by such crimes.