Four teenagers face serious charges
11:18, 11 Jul 2026Updated 11:35, 11 Jul 2026
File photo of a police officer(Image: Derby Telegraph)
Four people have been charged in connection with a rape investigation after co-ordinated pre-planned arrests were carried out across North Somerset on Thursday (July 9).
The four people were arrested across Weston-super-Mare and Worle by police investigating claims a woman was threatened and raped at a property on Sunday, June 21.
Detectives from Avon and Somerset Police’s Operation Bluestone team, which specialises in investigating serious sexual offences, made the arrests and the four have all been remanded in custody to appear at Taunton Magistrates’ Court later today.
Tommy Campbell, 19 and from Weston-super-Mare, has been charged with six counts of rape, one count of sexual assault, one count of false imprisonment, and one count of assault causing actual bodily harm.
Rio Welling, 18 and from Weston-super-Mare, has been charged with two counts of rape and one count of false imprisonment.
A 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named because of his age, has been charged with three counts of rape, one count of false imprisonment, and one count of assault causing actual bodily harm.
A second 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named because of his age, has been charged with one count of rape, and one count of assault causing actual bodily harm.
Detective Inspector Natalie Thatcher said: “Our investigation into this incredibly serious incident has been taking place over the past few weeks and the charges authorised by the Crown Prosecution Service are a significant milestone.
“The victim has been updated by specially trained officers who will continue to provide her with as much support as she needs.
“We are aware the co-ordinated pre-planned arrest attempts across Weston and Worle on Thursday did cause some local concern, which is why we wanted to be transparent around why they were necessary.
“We would like to thank people for their patience while those enquiries were carried out.”