Surbiton man who sexually abused girl under 13 jailed

William Raison, also known as Bill Raison, repeatedly sexually abused the girl, who was under 13 at the time.

The girl told police she would sometimes pretend to be asleep when Raison entered the room because she wanted to find out what he would do if he thought she was asleep.

She wanted to know whether he would do anything bad to her so she could tell someone and prevent it from happening to anyone else.

On one occasion, when she challenged Raison directly, he dismissed her concerns and told her: “It doesn’t matter. Just don’t tell anyone.”

Raison was arrested in February 2025 after the survivor confided in her family about what had happened.

He was later charged with two counts of sexual assault by penetration of a girl under 13, four counts of sexual assault of a girl under 13 and making 216 category C indecent images of children.

Raison pleaded guilty to all seven offences at Guildford Crown Court on June 19.

The 75-year-old was sentenced at the same court on Thursday (September 17).

He was jailed for 12 years, with an additional year to be served on licence.

A lifelong restraining order was also granted protecting the survivor and her family.

Raison was also given a 15-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Detective Constable Kiki Phillips said Raison had used grooming behaviours to facilitate “deplorable, systematic abuse” against the survivor on numerous occasions.

She said the survivor remained courageous and open with officers throughout the investigation.

Her detailed testimony helped investigators identify forensic and digital forensic opportunities which provided vital evidence against Raison.

DC Phillips said the evidence gathered culminated in Raison pleading guilty to all seven charges at an early stage of the court proceedings.

She praised the survivor's courage and said she hoped she and her family could find some solace knowing Raison was behind bars and unable to harm anyone else.