Rapist posing as photographer has sentence increased

A man convicted of sexually assaulting women after posing as a photographer has had his sentence increased to 12 years.

Anthony Williams, 40, from Brockworth, Gloucester, targeted women by asking them to take part in photo shoots.

He was jailed for eight years at Gloucester Crown Court on 22 January, but this was appealed against under the Unduly Lenient Sentencing Scheme and judges at the Court of Appeal added a further four years to his sentence.

Investigating Officer Det Con Simone Bowley, of Gloucestershire Constabulary, said: "Williams targeted these women online, sexually assaulted them, and then, by failing to admit what he had done to them, caused them all to endure a lengthy trial."

During his original trial, the court heard how Williams messaged the women on Instagram offering his services as a photographer.

In one photo shoot, he raped the woman he was photographing, and in other instances he would adjust the women's clothing without their consent, the trial heard.

He was arrested in November 2021 when one of the women reported to police what he had done. A second woman also came forward and made a report to police.

When his home in Lobleys Drive, Brockworth, was searched, police found photo shoot contracts with several other women and contacted them, resulting in seven victims being identified.

In a statement read out in court during the trial, the first woman who came forward said: "The damage caused to me by Williams is completely irreparable.

"My family's life was torn apart.

"I walked into his studio the happiest, most confident I'd been for years.

"My life was awesome and he was meant to help complete my goal of becoming a model.

"Instead he shattered my confidence, caused Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and made me feel as if my life was over."

Following the increase in sentence, Det Con Bowley added: "The women who came forward and worked with us throughout this prolonged and difficult process have not just been incredibly brave but also patient.

"I wish to personally commend them and thank them for their courage."

Alongside the jail sentence, Williams was given an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order, banning him from engaging in a photography business, and he was put on the Sex Offenders' Register for life.

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