Alexander Westwood, an actor who appeared in Intercourse Schooling, has been jailed for intercourse offences.
The 24-year-old, who appeared as an unnamed pupil in a number of episodes of the Netflix present, was convicted of 26 crimes in opposition to kids and two pupils who got here to him for performing assist.
Westwood, who additionally appeared within the BBC‘s Docs, was sentenced to fifteen and a half years custody at Wolverhampton Crown Courtroom in the present day (February 25), with Decide Neil Chawla saying that he used his standing as a minor superstar to prey on younger ladies. He was described as “manipulative and predatory” in court docket, with the choose including, “You’ve got failed to indicate any regret and you’ve got proven little or no perception into the influence of your offending had in your victims. The jury rejected your story of blaming the victims. You’re a serial sexual offender and it grew to become a part of your life-style.”
In December, Westwood, from Albrighton, Shropshire, was discovered responsible of sexual offences in opposition to a younger little one, a boy aged between 9 and 10, two teenage ladies who had been on the lookout for assist with performing, and a lady.
Three of Westwood’s feminine victims supported one another in court docket as they learn statements in regards to the results of his abuse. One mentioned that she’d had panic assaults for the reason that abuse and had “come to despise every little thing to do with performing, although it was my ardour.”
Different victims spoke of coping with low shallowness, claustrophobia and nervousness.
Between November 2020 and September 2021, Westwood raped and sexually assaulted an performing pupil who had been taking classes from him. Westwood talked to her a few intercourse scene from the movie Frankie And Johnny and a masturbation scene from Bridgerton, and he or she was made to strip whereas doing a monologue by Ophelia from Hamlet.
Prosecutor Andrew Wallace informed the court docket that Westwood threatened to go to the principal of the drama faculty she wished to attend if she stopped her performing classes with him, and made her signal a contract, telling her she’d owe him as much as £18,000 or £36,000 if she broke it.
Westwood started abusing his youngest sufferer when he was 10 years previous and he or she was six, whereas he compelled one other teenager to behave out “inappropriate” scripts as he made her strip. Westwood additionally inspired a 10-year-old boy to the touch himself as a part of a “sport” when he was 18, and was “extremely manipulative and controlling” in the direction of a lady he held down “each few weeks,” regardless of her telling him she didn’t wish to have intercourse.
Westwood may have confronted 77 counts in opposition to him, however as it might have been “unwieldy” to prosecute they had been reduce all the way down to 26. His sentences for 11 of the 26 counts had been lowered by half on account of him being a minor on the time he dedicated the offences.
The choose issued restraining orders in opposition to Westwood in regard to all 5 victims, and there was applause from the court docket after sentencing.
For assist, recommendation or extra data relating to sexual harassment, assault and rape within the UK, go to the Rape Disaster charity web site. Within the US, go to RAINN.
