A mother who raped and abused children alongside her Tinder lover has died in jail less than halfway through her sentence.
Rebecca Holloway, 31, died at Low Newton Prison, County Durham, on Thursday, February 13, after being jailed for 12-and-a-half years at Teesside Crown Court in 2020.
Holloway and her lover Oliver Wilson, 28, from Lincolnshire, were both sent to prison after committing ‘horrific and appalling’ abuse on young children.
Holloway also admitted making and distributing indecent images of young children.
When sentenced, Judge Paul Watson QC told her: ‘You were there encouraging Wilson when he was sexually abusing the girl and you played your part in the vile sexual acts to which she was subjected.
‘You derived perverted sexual pleasure from what he was doing. You were a willing, even enthusiastic, participant in what happened.
‘The full extent of the long-term impact of what you two did to the girl may never be known. But it is clear that it has had a profound effect upon her.’
Judge Watson said Holloway and Wilson shared ‘depraved and vile’ text messages about their crimes.
Rebecca Holloway (pictured) was jailed for 12-and-a-half years at Teesside Crown Court in 2020 after committing ‘horrific and appalling’ abuse on young children
Holloway, 31, died at Low Newton Prison (pictured), County Durham, on Thursday, February 13, less than halfway through her sentence
Holloway and Oliver Wilson (pictured) of Lincolnshire, were jailed after admitting the vile acts – Wilson was convicted in a separate trial of 11 serious sex offences including five rapes
Speaking about one victim, he said: ‘You sexually abused her in a horrific and appalling way.
‘When she was asked how many times she had been raped by you, she could only reply ‘lots’.’
Police have said the death is not suspicious but an inquest will be held to determine the exact circumstances.
A spokesperson for the Prison Service said: ‘HMP/YOI Low Newton prisoner Rebecca Holloway died on 13 February. As with all deaths in custody, the Prison and Probation Ombudsman will investigate.’
Holloway’s next of kin have been informed.
The depraved pair were caught when Lincolnshire Police discovered Wilson was showing ‘great interest in buying used children’s underwear on eBay’.
A bin-bag of soiled children’s clothing was found at his home along with a photo of a young child on his phone, and a copy of the film Lolita.
Police then discovered the gruesome chats with Holloway about sexually abusing children.
Then 26-year-old Holloway (pictured) also admitted making and distributing indecent images of young children
Judge Paul Watson QC sentenced Holloway and Wilson at Teesside Crown Court (pictured) in 2020 and said the pair shared ‘depraved and vile’ text messages about their crimes (Stock Image)
When police raided her home 60 miles away, they found sex toys and pictures of children – including snaps of girls’ underwear.
It then emerged a schoolgirl had been sexually abused and raped and another child was left with a sexual injury.
The pair finally appeared together for sentence after Wilson was convicted in a separate trial of 11 serious sex offences – including five rapes.
They admitted two offences of rape of a child, on multiple occasions, and conspiracy to sexually assault a child under 13.
Wilson also admitted rape, assault by penetration and making indecent photographs of children.
He told police after he was arrested that he and Holloway were sleeping together for about a year and Holloway said that they met on the Tinder dating site.
Wilson was jailed for 29-and-a-half years and he will be on extended licence of five years after his release.
The two were caught when Lincolnshire Police discovered Wilson’s activities during an online paedophile investigation.
A bin-bag of soiled children’s clothing was found at Wilson’s home along with a photo of a young child on his phone, and a copy of the film Lolita
Police raided his home in the Spalding area. In separate offences, Wilson was found guilty at Grimsby Crown Court of 11 charges of rape and sexual abuse of a young girl.
Judge Watson said Holloway and Wilson’s sexually charged text messages made for some of the most ‘depraved and vile’ reading he had encountered.
Concerning Wilson’s separate rape matters, Judge Watson said: ‘Your abuse of that little girl has left deep and long-lasting emotional scarring.
‘She still needs counselling, she lacks her former self-confidence.’
Wilson had a preoccupation with sexual matters and was a high risk of serious sexual assault.
‘The potential victims of your offending are pre-pubescent children,’ said Judge Watson.
Gordon Stables, prosecuting, said that police became aware of Wilson in August 2017 after an investigation revealed that he was showing great interest in buying used children’s underwear on eBay.
There was a ‘clear sexual interest in children’ in online conversations and discussions about pictures of underwear.
The depraved pair were caught when Lincolnshire Police discovered Wilson was showing ‘great interest in buying used children’s underwear on eBay’ (Stock Image)
Police went to his home and analysis of his phone and other devices revealed ‘highly sexualised and exceptionally graphic’ conversations with Holloway about the ‘serious sexual abuse of children’.
Sexual images of children were found in Holloway’s possession as well as a close-up picture of girls’ underwear.
It was then discovered a girl had been sexually abused and raped and a boy had a sexual injury.
Holloway and Wilson sank to ‘real depths of depravity to satisfy their own sexual urges’, said Mr Stables.
Wilson had been using the ‘dark web’ over his use of images and there was an exchange of them during online chats with Holloway.
The girl later revealed during disclosures about Wilson: ‘He did stuff that I didn’t like.’
A victim impact statement on behalf of a young girl said: ‘The horrific abuse that she has suffered is something that she still talks about.
‘We have heard terrible things about what has happened. I worry that she will not be able to maintain a relationship in the future because of the abuse she has suffered.’
Wilson had been using the ‘dark web’ over his use of images and there was an exchange of them during online chats with Holloway (Stock Image)
A statement for the girl in the case involving only Wilson said: ‘This has affected every part of her life and is consuming her.
‘She is less trusting of adults and this impacts her daily life.’
Holloway had no previous convictions and Wilson had youth court convictions.
Andrew Bailey, mitigating for Holloway said: ‘This is one of the worst cases of its type that the court will often come across.
‘It’s difficult to imagine a more depraved case of sexual behaviour. She clearly participated in these vile sexual acts with Wilson.’
Holloway had suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder after what she claimed happened in her childhood and the ‘repeated traumatic events in her past’ and had been a long-term self-harmer before she met Wilson.
‘Fear of rejection meant that she would be vulnerable to pressure in a relationship,’ said Mr Bailey.
‘She clearly did participate fully in what went on.’
Holloway lost a baby son to cot death in 2015 and met Wilson soon afterwards at a very weak point emotionally.
‘It caused depression, anxiety and low self-esteem, which made her vulnerable to manipulation from others,’ said Mr Bailey.
A report had said that she ‘felt flattered at the attention’ from Wilson.
‘Her behaviour later was abhorrent,’ added Mr Bailey.
He claimed that Wilson ‘groomed and manipulated’ Holloway by ‘using her insecurity’, although she fully participated in the sexual abuse of children.
‘These are matters that she will have to live with,’ said Mr Bailey.
Holloway had said: ‘I feel sick for what I have done.’
