Former Premier League assistant referee jailed for rape and sexual assault after trapping victim in his flat in ‘degrading and humiliating ordeal’

A former top-flight referee has been jailed for rape and sexual assault committed in 2009 after evading justice for over 12 years. 

Steven Wilson, 55 – who was previously known as Steven Dorr – of Rowley Regis, West Midlands, was handed a nine-year prison sentence at Worcester Crown Court on Monday after subjecting his victim to a ‘degrading and humiliating ordeal’ at his former residence. 

Wilson’s victim had been lured by the former official from a taxi rank in Worcester city centre after the man had promised to take him to a party ‘where there are a lot of girls’. 

The victim, who did not recognise Wilson and had never met him before, arrived at the flat in Worcester to find the premises empty, with Wilson locking the door behind them and trapping him in the apartment. 

After putting on pornographic videos on his television, Wilson then forced the man to perform oral sex on him. He later sexually assaulted him. 

The victim was trapped in the flat for three or four hours, with Detective Constable Chris Hawkes, who led the investigation, dubbing his ordeal as ‘awful’. 

‘Wilson’s victim was incredibly scared during his time trapped in his flat and feared for his safety as he did not know Wilson, or what he was capable of.

‘His awful ordeal lasted for three or four hours as it was light outside when Wilson eventually allowed him to leave the flat.’

The victim had only identified Wilson years later in 2021, when reading an article online which detailed his conviction in November 2011 – as Steven Dorr – for sexual offences with teenage boys. 

Wilson was described as ‘devious and manipulative’ and handed a 15-month sentence by presiding judge Patrick Thomas QC after he had attempted to arrange sexual contact with a fictional 15-year-old via text message. 

The offence had taken place during an incident which saw Wilson invite two 17-year-olds and a 16-year-old to a hotel room on Valentine’s Day in 2010 for a ‘night of fun’. 

Wilson had offered the boys money to take part in a sex act with him, and also offered to pay an imaginary underage boy for sex after one texted Wilson claiming his ‘friend’ was available.  

Wilson was also found guilty of breaching a sexual offfences prevention order (SOPO) which banned him from contact with children under the age of 17, as well as failing to inform authorities he was travelling in a group with a toddler when attending the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. 

The SOPO was put in place in January of that year, after he was given a three-year community order in the wake of admitting 10 counts of downloading child pornography. 

Wilson had his refereeing career ended by the revelations, which came to light in 2009 and saw him struck off from the National List of Referees. 

Under the name Steve or Steven Dorr, Wilson officiated in the Football League (pictured in 2005 during a League Two fixture)

Before that year, however, Wilson had risen through the officiating ranks since 1985, and had his eye on overseeing Premier League fixtures. 

In 2000, Wilson was made chairman of the Worcester Referees Society, and five years later, he stepped up to the top flight as an assistant. 

His stint at the top of English football lasted only a handful of months before he received a second promotion in 2005, with Wilson named one of 50 referees to officiate in the Football League. 

‘It’s great for me and great for Worcester,’ Wilson said of his step up that year. ‘I am just going to try and represent the people and Worcester Referees Society the best way I can. 

‘I need to reassess targets now and where I want to go but my ultimate aim is to referee on the Premier League.’ 

Wilson has also been ordered to remain on the Sex Offenders Register for life.