Applause in court as rapist actor Alexander Westwood jailed for 15-and-a-half years for 'decade of sordid sexual criminality'

Westwood, 24, of Holyhead Road, Albrighton, was sentenced for 26 sexual crimes, including rape, at Wolverhampton Crown Court today (Tuesday, February 25).

Victims of Westwood told the court how he had ruined their lives, one saying "I will have to live with this for the rest of my life".

Prosecutor Andrew Wallace KC said: "Following a lengthy trial the defendant was found guilty of a catalogue of crimes and is therefore not subject to any credit. In fact he called his victims liars in a pre-sentence report, which is regrettable. 

"He is the product of poor parenting and pornography. He was watching pornography on his father's laptop before the age of 10."

At this point Westwood's father swore out loud from the public gallery where he and his wife were supporting the sex attacker.

Mr Wallace said: "The pre-sentence report shows the defendant regularly showed totally inappropriate sexualised behaviour at a young age. He is a serial sexual predator, particularly targeting children. Four of his victims were children at the time. This is abuse on a huge scale."

He added: "He could have been sentenced to 77 serious sexual assaults, but that would have been unwieldy to sentence."

Mr Wallace outlined Westwood's crimes to the court, which stretched back to his 10th birthday. 

The graphic nature of his description caused several of the victims and public gallery to burst into tears, at least one leaving the courtroom.

The court heard Westwood took one of his acting pupils' virginity by raping her after forcing her to act out Shakespeare naked. 

He also would create sick 'game shows' with children, forcing them to watch pornography and undress. 

Mr Wallace called Westwood "manipulative, controlling and cynical" for creating a bogus contract for one of his acting pupils who he raped. 

He said: "It is worrying how much planning went into this offending, none of which have become remorse. He went to so much effort which is very worrying. 

"He would not have been to able to commit some of these crimes unless he had set himself up as a teacher, which is a breach of trust. He is a significant risk to the public. He has a flagrant disregard for his victims."

In mitigation, Westwood's lawyer James Bloomer KC said: "This defendant is a young man and these crimes happened when he was even younger. He also will lose his acting career forever."

Mr Bloomer also complained about the "emotional temperature and language" of the prosecution which he feared would lead to "unfair sentence".

Judge Neil Chawla KC told Westwood he used his 'minor celebrity' to carry out his sexual deviance.

He said: "Throughout your trial your nonchalant attitude bordered on arrogance. I thought long and hard about bail but as an act of mercy for your parents, you were expected to stay at your home address - yet last week you were found in a hotel.

"One of your victims said she felt dehumanised. Another said how she felt dirty just doing the most mundane things."

He added: "This is the horrifying, lasting effect on the victims of what you did - your sordid sexual criminality. The lead offence is rape, you were supposed to be teaching her, you were paid. This is an abuse of trust.

"I must sentence you for a multitude of sexual offending over a decade of your life. You have shown no remorse and remain a danger to the public."

Westwood was sentenced to 15-and-a-half years in prison and then will spend four years on licence after he is released.

Westwood was given a 26-year restraining order from all his victims and a sexual harm order for the same amount of time.

After being sent down an ashen-faced Westwood thanked the judge as the public gallery broke out into spontaneous applause.