Man jailed for kidnap and raping a boy on Halloween

Thirty-eight year old Simon John Heritage, from Bedworth, Warwickshire, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for kidnapping a young boy at knifepoint and raping him as the 11-year-old was walking home after going trick or treating on Halloween.

Today, March 18, at Warwick Crown Court, judge Coates sentenced Heritage to 5 years for kidnap; 2 years for possessing an offensive weapon; and 12 years for rape – all to run concurrently.

The incident occurred at approximately 6:50pm on October 31, 2012. The group of friends had reached their agreed parting place in Bedworth where they split up, leaving the boy on his own.

As soon as his friends had gone, Heritage walked up to the boy and pressed a knife between his shoulder blades, telling him to be quiet or “I’ll kill you”. He then guided him at knifepoint into an alleyway where he raped him.

The 11-year-old's mother repeatedly tried to phone the boy, but Heritage had removed his mobile phone.

After the boy failed to get away, he told Heritage that he would visit him if he told him where he lived. Believing him, he returned the phone and let the boy go.

That evening, officers visited the address Heritage had given the boy and found a knife and clothing matching the description the boy had given and Heritage was immediately arrested.

The judge also ordered that Heritage be placed on the sexual offenders register and managed under strict conditions by Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements upon his eventual release from prison.