Holiday camp chef who tied up and raped two 15-year-old girls.

Holiday Camp Chef Jailed for Rape

A holiday camp chef who tied up and raped two 15-year-old girls he met while working near Burnham has finally been jailed after going on the run.

Clayton Ball, 25, was tried in his absence in September and later arrested on the Isle of Wight following a national manhunt. On Monday (November 5), Ball was sentenced to 12 years in prison at Taunton Crown Court.

During his trial, a jury heard that Ball, who worked at a holiday camp fish and chip shop, met the teenage holidaymakers. He raped one girl, who believed she was his girlfriend, in his caravan with her hands tied with a belt and while blindfolded. He also had sexual intercourse with another girl, whom he had talked of marrying, on two occasions. Four months later, he tied her up and raped her after attempting to put her in pink-furred handcuffs.

The prosecution argued that Ball had used both violence and bondage to rape the girls, despite them initially going to his caravan for kissing and cuddling.

Ball was convicted on two counts of rape and found not guilty on a third similar charge. He was also found guilty on two charges of sexual activity with a child and had previously admitted possession of five indecent images of children.

The defense argued for a reduced sentence, citing a psychiatrist's report and Ball's previous good character. They described him as a "sad, lonely man working hard, but with not much of a social life."

The judge, His Honour David Smith QC, described the case as "distressing and sad" and justified the severe penalties imposed. He stated that the sentence handed down on the last occasion was appropriate.