Wigan teen rapist is behind bars

James Riley Price, of West Street in Ince, has been sent to a young offenders’ institution after he was found guilty of the serious sex assault on a girl under the age of 13.

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The 18-year-old was convicted following a five-day trial at Bolton Crown Court which concluded on August 1 with the jury’s verdict.

Price stood trial alongside another teen, who was cleared of both aiding and abetting him and sexual activity with the same 12-year-old girl.

During the hearing, the Crown Prosecution Service submitted evidence that Price, who was 16 at the time of the offence, had been introduced to the victim by his co-defendant.

The court heard how the youngster had then had sex with his victim in the back of a van.

Price was later found out when the girl told one of her school teachers about the attack, who then immediately informed police.

The incident, which happened back in September 2016, first appeared before Wigan and Leigh Magistrates’ Court in November last year, at which point both Price and his co-accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The second defendant, who was 17 at the time of the attack, was initially charged with rape also but this was downgraded to sexual activity with a girl under the age of 13 by the time it went to trial in July this year.

Price, who has now begun his six-year sentence in a young offenders’ institution, was also given a six-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order and will remain on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely.

He was also banned from contacting his young victim in any way for at least six years.