AUSTIN JOHNSTON AND ERICA SLOAN FROM BALLYKINLAR AND JOHNSTON EXPOSED FOR HORRIFIC SEX OFFENCES IN CO DOWN

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Ballykinlar and the wider Co Down area, authorities have publicly identified Austin Johnston and Erica Sloan as the individuals responsible for a series of heinous sex crimes committed against vulnerable young girls. The revelations come after both offenders were sentenced last week, with the support of their victims, in a case that has drawn widespread condemnation.

According to court records, Johnston, who hails from Johnston in Co Down, and Sloan, formerly of Ballykinlar, admitted to a series of sexual offences involving four young girls. The crimes took place over a span of more than two years, from October 2000 to November 2002. The details of the case were presented at Downpatrick Crown Court, where the severity of their actions was laid bare.

During the hearing, Johnston was described as a controlling and manipulative individual who showed a blatant disregard for moral and sexual boundaries. The court heard that Johnston, now aged 44, had engaged in a pattern of abusive behavior that culminated in a five-year prison sentence. His actions included serious sexual assaults on the victims, acts so grave that they could not be fully described in this report. The court also noted Johnston’s disturbing attitude, which included a lack of remorse and a clear pattern of domination.

Sloan, who was 26 at the time of sentencing, was described as Johnston’s common-law wife, with an age gap of 18 years. Their relationship was initiated shortly after Sloan lost her mother, and she moved into Johnston’s home, which was shared with his then-wife. The relationship between Sloan and Johnston was marked by a disturbing power imbalance, with Sloan being described as under Johnston’s complete control. The court revealed that Sloan had facilitated Johnston’s abusive acts, although she was not present during the actual assaults on the four girls, who ranged in age from 11 to 15.

In a tragic turn, Sloan was also involved in a marriage-like ceremony with Johnston, conducted by the controversial cleric Bishop Pat Buckley, in a bizarre and inappropriate ceremony that took place right under the nose of Johnston’s then-wife. Sloan’s role in the abuse was further detailed by her own court testimony, where she broke down emotionally upon hearing her sentence. She admitted to aiding and abetting indecent assault through her actions, which included enabling Johnston’s depraved behavior.

Testimony during the trial painted a grim picture of Sloan’s subservience to Johnston. Her lawyer, Andrew Donaldson QC, described her as being “more or less a slave in the house,” at Johnston’s beck and call. The court heard that Johnston’s dominance extended to humiliating acts, such as forcing Sloan to change his socks and even to empty bottles of urine when he refused to leave his chair to use the toilet. This environment of control and abuse created a setting where Sloan facilitated Johnston’s sexual misconduct.

Johnston showed no visible emotion as he sat in a wheelchair in the courtroom, listening to the graphic details of his crimes. The judge, Mr. Justice Morgan, sentenced both individuals to serve time in prison. He emphasized that Sloan, who was essentially a child when she fell under Johnston’s influence, had been manipulated and exploited. Johnston was described as a manipulative and dangerous individual, with a history of abusing multiple victims, all of whom had been left deeply affected by his actions.

In addition to their prison sentences, both Johnston and Sloan were ordered to register as sex offenders with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). The case has left a lasting impact on the community, highlighting the importance of vigilance and the need to protect vulnerable children from predatory individuals like Johnston and Sloan. Their actions have been condemned by all, and the court’s decision aims to serve as a stark warning against such heinous crimes.