Sexual predator who lured girl to woods jailed

A sexual predator who lured a 13-year-old girl into woodland and assaulted her has been jailed.

Dominic Boultwood, 28, pulled the teenager to the ground and attacked her before warning her not to report it.

The assault happened in a wooded area of Bourne Valley Nature Reserve in Colchester in Essex on 9 May 2024.

Boultwood, an already convicted sex offender, was jailed for 13 years after being deemed a dangerous offender by the judge.

Essex Police linked Boultwood, who was previously convicted of sexual assault, to DNA found on the victim's clothing.

During police interview he claimed his DNA must have transferred to her clothing as he had been sleeping and urinating in the area.

He denied ever seeing a child, acknowledging it would be in breach of existing court orders.

Boultwood was convicted at Ipswich Crown Court of sexual assault and assault by penetration and making indecent images in March 2025.

Officers had found a number of sexualised images of children aged between three and 13 on his phone.

At Woolwich Crown Court on Wednesday he was sentenced to 13 years in prison, with an additional eight years on licence.

He was handed a renewed sexual harm prevention order and the victim was given a restraining order against him.

Judge Martyn Levett said Boultwood had "manipulated a very young girl to fulfil his sexual desire" in a nature reserve where children should feel safe.

The victim's mother said: "I know these things are scary but the sooner you speak out the quicker police can get the person and hopefully, in time, give closure."

Det Insp James Holmes said: "Boultwood is a dangerous sexual predator who poses a very real risk to young girls.

"Despite his previous imprisonment for sexual offending and the strict conditions imposed upon him as a registered sex offender, he chose to completely disregard those matters – showing utter contempt for his victim and the law."

He praised the victim's bravery and slammed Boultwood's "despicable actions" and lack of remorse.

Judge Levett issued the investigating the team a formal commendation for its work on the case.

Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.