Callum Wheeler, 22, was found guilty in May of murdering Julia James, 53, as she walked her dog near her home in Snowdown, Kent, in April last year. A court heard Wheeler was waiting in Ackholt Woods and ambushed James with a 3kg metal jack. James’ watch registered a jump in her heart rate as soon as she spotted Wheeler and she ran “desperate to get away”, but was chased and repeatedly hit on the head. She was found lying face down in a field by locals. Wheeler, who lived with his father in the neighboring village of Aylesham in Kent, admitted killing James but denied murder. A jury of eight women and four men at Canterbury Crown Court convicted Wheeler of murder after deliberating for an hour. In the months before the attack, James twice spotted Wheeler hiding in the woods where she regularly walked her dog. She told her husband she had passed a “very strange dude” and later showed Wheeler to her husband on a walk together in February 2021. In the days leading up to James’ murder, witnesses spotted Wheeler acting suspiciously in the area. During that time he visited porn sites 42 times and searched for the word “rape”. Passing sentence on Friday, the judge, Mr Justice Wall, said: “The attack you launched on her was brutal and savage.” Callum Wheeler denied murder but was convicted in May. Photo: PA The accused was led into court on Friday in handcuffs by staff at Broadmoor maximum security psychiatric hospital, where he is being held. James’ husband Paul James, daughter Bethan Coles, 33, and son Patrick Davis, 24, read statements as Wheeler sat with his head bowed. “My mum just wanted to walk her dog but ended her life at the hands of this disgusting creature. I will not refer to him as a person,” Davis said. His sister said the attack “haunts me every day of my life”. Breaking down in tears, Paul James said his hopes and dreams were dashed when his wife was murdered. “I really felt like I died too.” Wheeler’s DNA was found near the chest area of a vest James was wearing under her coat and jumper. Prosecutor Alison Morgan QC said it was “a murder involving sexual conduct”. In the days after the attack, Wheeler wandered around the area with the murder weapon, a 97cm long cylindrical bar used to lift train tracks, protruding from his bag. The train jack was later found in his bedroom. Described by police as a “complete loner,” Wheeler had no relationship with the victim. He has a history of mental health problems and dropped out of school at 15. After his arrest on May 7, 2021, Wheeler exposed himself to female police officers, attempted to masturbate in front of them, and told security staff that James deserved to die. He said that if released he would rape and kill women. Wheeler said, “You can’t go into the woods and expect to be safe.” He said he would return to the scene of his crime and “have sex with women without their consent”. Kent Police called James, who joined the force in 2008, a “committed and dedicated” officer who was “well-liked and well-known by staff of all ranks and roles”.
