A porn-obsessed recluse who beat PCSO Julia James to death has been sentenced to 37 years in prison, and her family has spoken out about their grief.
Mother-of-two Mrs. James was beaten to death by Callum Wheeler, 22, who used a railway jack, an equipment used to remove railroad rails, as she strolled through fields and woods behind her Snowdown house.
At Canterbury Crown Court today, he was given a life sentence with a minimum requirement of 37 years.
‘We are who we are, and we speak from our hearts,’ Mr. James said in response to a question from a reporter about the family’s courage in taking on Wheeler during the trial.
There are no adequate words to express how tough it was. It really did just tear us apart, literally.
“We’re very appreciative for everyone and all their hard work getting us to this point today,” her daughter Bethan Coles said.
“We’re happy to have 37 years.” Although it is obvious that it would never bring my mother back, what it does is protect women from him and any potential future harm.
In just 73 minutes, the jury of eight women and four men determined that Wheeler, who was also characterized as “angry, violent, and odd,” had ambushed the 53-year-old mother-of-two outside her home in Snowdown, Kent, on April 27, 2016, at around 2.30 p.m.
On May 16, he was convicted at Canterbury Crown Court. And today, to get his life sentence, which he must serve for at least 37 years, he had to be taken into the courtroom in handcuffs.
As his victim’s family, including her husband Paul James, daughter Bethan Coles, and son Patrick Davis, read their moving victim impact statements, Wheeler sat with his head lowered.
My goals and dreams were stolen, Mr. James lamented. I genuinely thought I had also passed away. The anguish and devastation have shaken my life. Together, we traveled everywhere. How can I accomplish this on my own?
My existence is now meaningless. I’m curious as to why this occurred. I still have trouble falling asleep at night. How will I survive without her?
“The one person I would turn to in my saddest hour has now passed away,” her son Patrick remarked. This person would be the same age as my mother if he lived another 30 years.
“Life sentences have been granted to every member of my family, including my mother. There is no justification for his release, just as there is none for the anguish and pain he has brought about.
“He should never see the light of day again,” he declared. How could he?
My mother had merely intended to walk her dog when she was killed by this repulsive animal. I won’t use the word “human being” to describe him.
He and Mrs. James’ daughter described how their “life sentence” was made worse by their mother’s murder.
She remarked, “I have found it difficult to find the perfect words to express how it has destroyed my life and the lives of my family.” My life has drastically changed.
“It is absolutely terrible to lose my own parent, the person I loved most in the world.
It is horrifying to learn how she was viciously attacked in broad daylight after fleeing for her safety. Every single day of my life, it haunts me.
The widower of Mrs. James sobbed uncontrollably as he described how “my life was finally complete when I married my soulmate.”
When his wife was killed, he commented, “My hopes and dreams were taken.”
“I really felt like I died too,”
This was not a spontaneous action by you, but rather an attack that was thought through and prepared in advance, according to sentencing judge Mr. Justice Mark Wall.
The moment Julia James was ambushed, she was defenseless. You attacked her in a terrible and harsh manner.
“After the attack was over, you had the foresight to wrap the weapon to hide it and cover part of the blood on the ground.
“I condemn you to life in prison with a minimum of 37 years to serve for the murder of Julia James.
The victim of your crime was only 53 years old when she passed away, he continued. a devoted wife to Paul and a cherished mother to Bethan and Patrick.
She had gained a lot of respect from the residents in her community as a result of her work as a PCSO.
It is clear that your actions have not only destroyed one life but have also left her family members in a terrible position.
You may have permanently destroyed that family’s major source of support, sense of security, and sense of well-being by your actions.
Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS South East Matt Capes stated in a statement following the sentencing that the case was “really stunning and heart-breaking.” Without fear of violence, Julia James had the liberty to take her dog for a walk and to enjoy life’s freedoms.
The community was stunned by Julia’s passing, and Wheeler’s callous and vicious acts have crushed her family and friends.
Wheeler’s actions prior to, during, and following the attack left no space for doubt regarding his involvement in Julia’s demise.
Due to the thorough investigation conducted by Kent Police, which included DNA evidence, witness testimony, and CCTV footage, “We were able to offer clear and compelling evidence that demonstrated his intent to kill Julia.”
“Our thoughts continue to be with Julia’s family and friends who have exhibited bravery and decency during the course of the police investigation and legal processes,” the statement reads.
Mrs. James’ family expressed their gratitude to Kent Police for working diligently to identify and apprehend the PCSO’s killer outside of court following the sentencing.
“We’re very appreciative for everyone and all their hard work getting us to this point today,” her daughter Bethan Coles said.
“We’re happy to have 37 years.” Although it is obvious that it would never bring my mother back, what it does is protect women from him and any potential future harm.
Patrick Davis, the brother of Ms. Cole, also praised the police for their commitment to the investigation.
The police, including Gavin Moss and his squad, as well as numerous other people, he said, “have been just great.”
“They searched everywhere, and they found what we were looking for.” Although nothing has changed, at least ladies can avoid Wheeler in the future.
Paul James, the husband of Mrs. James, stated that they are “satisfied enough” with Wheeler’s sentence as it stands right now.
He said, fighting back tears, “It doesn’t change anything, but we’re very proud of our own families and everyone who has supported us, including all the villagers and our friends and relatives.
We are incredibly appreciative of what the police have done for us and how well the system has worked. It gives me great comfort to know that this person cannot harm anybody else. For us. We’re content if Julia made that sacrifice to protect others.
‘We are who we are, and we speak from our hearts,’ Mr. James said in response to a question from a reporter about the family’s courage in taking on Wheeler during the trial.
There are no adequate words to express how tough it was. We were all ripped apart by it in a literal sense.
“But once more, the support we’ve received—even from a few of you guys—has been incredible.” We are extremely grateful for these police officers and the family liaison officers.
According to Ms. Cole, the family was given the chance to tell the world about her mother and the kind of person she was through the punishment.
According to her, the entire process revolved on Wheeler, therefore it was crucial for us to convey a sense of who she is or was.
“This has been truly our only chance to do our part and let people know how significant and unique my mother was to us.”
“The person” refers to more than simply a name on a news article or in a newspaper; it also refers to the part she played in our lives, how it affected us, and how heartbroken we are over her passing.
I believe it was essential for all of us. The chance to express how much we all miss her would have been greatly appreciated by other family members as well.
The individuals who listened to us, Mr. James said, “indicated how much they knew Julia—even if they did not—simply by the way we stated it how it is.”
The day before the 53-year-old died and in the days that followed, as hundreds of police officers searched the region for leads, Wheeler was spotted prowling throughout the countryside with the firearm.
You can’t go into the woods and expect to be secure, Wheeler said to police after being taken into custody. “Sometimes I do things that I cannot control,” he added.
Additionally, he declared to a police officer that Mrs. James deserved to die and that he would go back to the woods to kill and rape a woman.
A jury of eight women and four men at Canterbury Crown Court took less than one hour and 10 minutes to find him guilty of Mrs James’s murder.
When the guilty verdict was announced, Wheeler, who is being imprisoned at the high-security psychiatric facility Broadmoor in Berkshire, remained silent.
Wheeler was requested to stand to hear the verdict, but instead of doing so, staff personnel held him up in the dock.
Wheeler barely knew his brother because he spent most of his time alone in his bedroom.
He didn’t have any known pals, only had a few contacts saved on his phone, and he preferred to spend his time alone in his bedroom.
Det Supt. Gavin Moss, a senior investigative officer with the Kent and Essex Crime Directorate, expressed his “pleasure” that justice had been served.
“Callum Wheeler has shown that he is an extremely dangerous person, as shown by his conduct,” he declared. He inflicted the most horrible wounds on my colleague Julia James.
“I am relieved that Callum Wheeler is now off the streets for a considerable amount of time, and so should the general public be.”
“I am incredibly proud of the police officers and police employees from Kent Police and from much further afield who helped us bring Callum Wheeler to justice,” I said.
“I’m overjoyed for the family, who today saw justice prevail,” she said.
In addition to expressing his condolences to Julia James’ family, Matt Capes, Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS South East, committed to combat violence against women.
Our sympathies are with Julia James’ family and friends who have displayed remarkable bravery and decency throughout the police inquiry and these main procedures, the speaker remarked.
Callum Wheeler was given a life sentence with a minimum of 37 years in jail today.
“I can only begin to understand the anguish his actions have caused for her family and everyone who knew and loved her.
The sentence handed down today won’t end the agony, but we hope it will at least provide some comfort.
“I also want to express our deepest condolences to the Kent Police officers and give them credit for their comprehensive investigation, which together with the diligent efforts of the CPS prosecution team resulted in Callum Wheeler’s conviction and today’s sentencing.
“Everyone should be able to travel around cities and rural areas without fear of danger.” We are resolved to end violence against women and girls, which is an appalling blight on our society.
Justice should be served to families of victims like Julia James. We’re committed to doing all in our power, working with our police allies, to ensure that we prosecute these horrific acts.
The jury was informed that Wheeler visited several pornographic websites and searched up rape in the days leading up to and following Mrs. James’ death. Wheeler was sat in the dock unbuttoning his shirt and glaring at the victim’s family.
After running into Wheeler one day and avoiding the path she saw him on, Mrs. James had described him as a “very odd person.”
Later, though, when he felt safe once more, he resumed his stroll into the forest.
Two years prior to Mrs. James’s passing, Wheeler relocated from London to Aylesham where he resided with his father and one brother.
He left school at the age of 15 without receiving any formal qualifications, according to the police, and was not attending any classes at the time.
The trial, according to Mrs. James’s daughter Bethan Coles, 33, has been “overwhelming.”
She characterized Wheeler as “simply a terrible excuse for a human being,” adding, “I suppose.”
She added that the guilty judgment is “very significant for the safety of individuals in the neighborhood” and that he “obviously is a menace to women.”
Paul, her mother’s husband, “made my mum really, really happy,” Ms. Coles continued.
Paul James, Mrs. James’s husband, released a heartfelt speech in which he paid tribute to her.
Paul James, Julia James’s distraught husband, paid tribute to his wife outside of court, saying he was “very proud” of everyone she has assisted via her work, especially victims of domestic violence.
She just assisted everyone, couldn’t do enough, Mr. James added.
She was really great, and I was very proud of her, he continued. Her work to assist so many others, particularly women who were in danger from evil guys, was truly extraordinary.
“We may never know why Callum Wheeler went out and committed such a heinous murder that day, but I hope that Julia’s family will take some solace in the fact that he has been found accountable,” said Kent Police Chief Constable Alan Pughsley.
Wheeler, who shared a home with his father John in Sunshine Corner Avenue, Aylesham, and had no prior convictions, admitted killing Mrs. James on the first day of his trial last week but denied murder at Canterbury Crown Court.
The prosecution said that the “very brutal and sustained” attack with a metal, 3 kg railway jack was premeditated over “several weeks” and was not a “momentary or spontaneous act of wrath.”
He ambushed 53-year-old Mrs. James, who was off duty and not wearing a uniform, at a location where it was claimed she had seen him two months before and had even described him to her husband Paul as “a really creepy person,” after lying in wait for a lone, vulnerable female.
He had no link to the mother of two and, when questioned by the authorities, he gave no justification for what he had done.
Mrs. James attempted to flee but was overcome by either the initial blow from the jack or tripping over her wellington boots, which caused her to fall on the ground.
The victim was repeatedly struck in the head by Wheeler as she lay face-down on a bridle path at the edge of a field.
Wheeler was said to have touched her clothing, particularly the breast area of her vest top, which was worn under a coat and jumper.
Her skull was stated to have been “obliterated” as a result of her injuries, which a pathologist described as among the worst he had ever seen in his 12-year career and as “totally unsurvivable” even with rapid medical attention.
About an hour and a half later, a family out for a walk discovered Mrs. James’ body. Toby, her Jack Russell, was nearby, unharmed, and still sporting his lead.
About five minutes prior to her murder, she had sent her last message on her phone, which was now ringing.
When Wheeler was arrested ten days later, the bloodstained railway jack was discovered leaning up against a wall in his bedroom.
The day before the 53-year-old died and in the days that followed, as hundreds of police officers searched the region for leads, he was seen prowling around the countryside with the weapon.
You can’t go into the woods and expect to be secure, Wheeler said to police after being taken into custody.
“Sometimes I do things that I cannot control,” he added.
He also threatened to kill and rape a woman in the woods, saying to a police officer that he would return there.
The court was informed that he later said, while being held by the police, that Mrs. James “ought to die” because she was “a f***ing fat c**t.”
In his cell, he reportedly exposed himself to a female police officer and gave a chilling warning to the staff that if released, he would kill, rape, and knock other women to the ground. He also said, “You can’t go into the woods and expect to be safe.”
A Google search for “rape” was made just two days prior to the murder, according to information obtained from an analysis of his laptop, Canterbury Crown Court in Kent was informed.
Even though no one saw the fatal assault, Mrs. James’ Apple smartwatch captured the precise moment and place that Wheeler confronted her, as well as a “spike” in her heart rate from 97 to 145, a change in pace, and a “sudden diversion” from her usual path.
The dashcam video of Wheeler being confronted by gamekeeper Gavin Tucker as they crossed paths the day after the murder and the GPS data both played a critical role in the murder investigation.
Wheeler had stepped outside with the weapon he had used to sever the Kent Police officer’s skull despite the area being heavily policed and under cordon.
In addition to the railway jack being contaminated with Mrs. James’ blood, the PCSO’s boots, Berghaus jacket, and vest top all had his DNA. He also found her blood on his Nike sneakers.
Nearly 7,000 hours of CCTV footage that the police had obtained from residences, places of business, and dashcams also contained photos and timestamps of Wheeler in the region of Ackholt Wood.
However, his defense team did not call any witnesses on his behalf, and the prosecution’s case was not refuted. He did not provide any testimony.
Wheeler was not defended by any psychiatric or medical testimony despite being flanked in the dock by four staff members during his trial while being housed in the high security Broadmoor Hospital in Berkshire.
Police suspect Wheeler might have killed again if he hadn’t been apprehended due to the murder’s randomness.
Senior investigating officer Det Supt Gavin Moss of the Kent and Essex Crime Directorate spoke of the massive police operation that involved 1,100 officers and staff and said, “I can never say what was going through his mind, but the level of resources used was justified because we cannot know that he wouldn’t have done it again.”
According to the police, he failed his GCSEs and dropped out of school at the age of 15, moving from southeast London to Aylesham two years before to the murder to live with his father.
He was unemployed, did not attend school, and was characterized by DS Moss as “a total and utter hermit” whose hobbies included playing video games in his bedroom and watching TV.
According to reports, he doesn’t even have a relationship with his brother and is said to have very few contacts on his mobile phone.
However, locals in the nearby rural communities of Aylesham and Snowdown had observed him frequently watching a weekly football practice and, more sinisterly, “roaming” the nearby fields and woods in the months preceding the murder, occasionally carrying the murder weapon.
The jack was covered in a carrier bag, and witnesses said in court that they saw Wheeler carrying a huge holdall both before and after Mrs. James died.
When she observed him in the alley outside her home on April 27 between noon and one o’clock, a woman who lived close to Aylesham village subsequently told police that she had “felt uncomfortable.”
He had placed an abandoned 999 call ten days before to the murder, and two additional female PCSOs had responded by going to his home. But he laughed as he called them fake police and refused to engage with them.
When he was detained on May 7, police had not yet made it to his house as part of their house-to-house investigations. When police had to force their way into his barricaded bedroom, he was hostile and belligerent.
He demanded to know who had “ratted” him, but he also said, “Sometimes I do things that I can’t control,” and he expressed desire for the death penalty.