Former Volunteer Police Officer Sentenced to 32 Years for Raping Child and Woman
A former volunteer Metropolitan Police officer has been handed a 32-year prison sentence for raping and sexually assaulting a child and a woman. James Bubb, who now identifies as a woman named Gwyn Samuels, was convicted following a trial last summer for crimes committed between 2018 and 2024.
Details of the Offences and Sentencing
Samuels, 28, groomed a 12-year-old girl online before sexually assaulting her, with the abuse including violence such as choking and punching. The defendant was also found guilty of raping an 18-year-old woman after meeting her online while posing as a 16-year-old girl. At Aylesbury Crown Court on March 20, Judge Jonathan Cooper imposed a sentence comprising 24 years in custody and an additional 8 years on extended licence.
Judge Cooper stated, "You abused the most intimate trust of each of your victims. In each case you systematically groomed your victim, first to befriend them, then to abuse them, finally to bend them to your will. This was a campaign of abuse against each that was intended to break their will entirely." He emphasized that Samuels poses a significant risk to women, noting this is based on criminal status rather than trans identity.
Court Proceedings and Victim Impact
During the trial, jurors heard how Samuels sexually assaulted the girl in public shortly before her 13th birthday. The first victim was met on the chat roulette site Omegle in 2018, with their initial in-person meeting occurring at a Christian festival months later. The girl reported feeling "hidden" in public and noted Samuels often discussed "the powers he had" as a special constable.
Samuels was convicted of:
- One count of raping a child under 13
- One count of sexual activity with a child
- Two counts of sexual assault against the first victim
- One count of rape against the second victim
The defendant, from Chesham, Buckinghamshire, was acquitted of one count of rape and one count of sexual activity with a child related to the first victim.
Legal and Investigative Responses
Paul Robson, a Crown Prosecution Service lawyer, commented, "The defendant targeted these victims and exploited their vulnerability and trust. When the victims asked for the abuse to stop, they were ignored. The offending has had a profound effect on the victims, and we are very grateful to them for their unwavering support throughout this prosecution."
Detective Sergeant Kirsty Pendle of Thames Valley Police praised the victims' courage, saying, "I want to pay tribute to the incredible courage and strength shown by both victims in coming forward and supporting this investigation through to court proceedings. Their bravery has been vital in bringing this offender to justice." Authorities are investigating whether Samuels may have committed other offences and urge anyone with information to contact them.
Samuels was made subject to a lifelong sexual harm prevention order, prohibiting contact with young women. Judge Cooper addressed the victims after sentencing, acknowledging the challenges they faced in the criminal justice system but highlighting the power of their evidence in securing the conviction.
