In a shocking case that horrified the Worcester community, Nathan Beauchamp, a 41-year-old bin lorry driver, was jailed for 12 years after being found guilty of multiple child sex offences. The crimes, which took place between January 21, 2018, and January 20, 2019, involved the rape of a young boy and sexual activity with another child, highlighting the betrayal of trust by an individual who positioned himself as a mentor and father figure.
Beauchamp, residing in Elsdon, Kempsey, near Worcester, occasionally cared for the boys after school, a role that prosecutors described as evolving from childminder to mentor. The boys enjoyed spending time at his home, particularly due to the hot tub in the back garden. However, according to prosecutor Anna Midgley at Gloucester Crown Court, this trust was exploited. 'Over time it is alleged that he took the elder boy into the bedroom and raped him,' Midgley told the jury during the four-day trial. The older boy, aged 12, later reported to police that the rapes occasionally occurred in the bathroom and once in the hot tub. Additionally, Beauchamp was accused of sexually assaulting the younger boy, aged between nine and ten, in the hot tub on another occasion.
The case came to light in June 2019 when the older boy became upset at school and confided in a teacher about the abuse. The teacher promptly notified the authorities, leading to Beauchamp's arrest. The jury convicted him of four charges: three counts of rape against the older boy and one count of sexual activity with the younger boy. He was acquitted of a further charge of raping a child under 13 in the hot tub. Beauchamp had denied all allegations throughout the proceedings.
During sentencing in January 2020, Judge Michael Cullum addressed Beauchamp directly, condemning the severity of his actions. 'You have been convicted of some of the most serious offences it is possible to commit - the rape of a young child,' the judge stated. He noted that the boy was fond of Beauchamp and his family, and that Beauchamp had been entrusted with parenting responsibilities. 'You were openly bi-sexual and looked at pornographic sites and concentrated on looking for young males... You created the scenario to act out your fantasies when no one else was around and rape him. As we’ve heard you did this repeatedly,' Cullum continued. The judge highlighted the grooming element, describing how Beauchamp built on the trust to abuse the boy, often under the guise of 'punishment' involving anal sex in the bedroom.
The court heard evidence of the profound psychological impact on the older boy, with signs of emerging sexual deviance attributed to the trauma. Judge Cullum emphasised the boy's bravery in speaking out, despite the humiliation of relaying his ordeal to school staff, family, police, and the court. 'There is no real evidence of physical harm to the older boy, but a 12-year-old who has been raped and having to go through the humiliating process... he is bound to suffer psychological harm,' the judge remarked. This long-term damage contributed to the harsh sentence.
In addition to the 12-year custodial term, Beauchamp received an extended licence period of one year upon release. He was ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life and was made subject to a sexual harm prevention order, also for life. Defence barrister Sophie Murray noted that prior to the offences, Beauchamp had enjoyed a happy family life, but this did little to mitigate the sentence.
Beauchamp's notoriety in Worcester stemmed not only from these offences but also from a separate incident in September 2014, when he was driving a Smith’s Waste Management refuse truck that crushed and killed 69-year-old pensioner Sylvia Russell in the Shambles. He was cleared of causing her death by careless or inconsiderate driving at Hereford Crown Court in 2016 after a five-day trial. At the time of the fatal accident, he lived in Churchill Grove, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, where the sexual offences also allegedly occurred.
This case, reported by Worcester News chief reporter James Connell, underscores the devastating consequences of child sexual exploitation and the importance of vigilance in protecting vulnerable young people. The trial took place at Gloucester Crown Court, with involvement from local authorities following the school's alert.