CHRISTOPHER JOHNS FROM BARNSTAPLE ESCAPES LONGER SENTENCE AFTER APPEAL IN SEX OFFENDER CASE

In a recent development in the case of Christopher Johns, a 30-year-old man from Barnstaple, the court has decided to reduce the length of his supervised release period following his conviction for serious sexual offenses involving minors.

Originally sentenced in February 2011 at Exeter Crown Court, Johns received a four-year custodial sentence for his crimes, which included sexual activity with a 14-year-old girl and inciting two other underage girls to engage in sexual acts. The court also imposed an extended license period of eight years, meaning Johns was to be supervised in the community for that duration after his release. Additionally, he was placed on the sex offenders' register for life and subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order.

The case drew significant attention due to Johns' repeated attempts to contact and groom underage girls via social media platforms, particularly Facebook. The court heard that Johns had initially befriended two girls under the age of 14, obtaining their mobile numbers through online messaging, and then sending them texts and voicemails offering gifts in exchange for meeting him. Despite being arrested and bailed with strict conditions that prohibited him from contacting or being alone with any child, Johns continued his offending behavior shortly after his release.

He managed to establish contact with another girl, and after arranging a meeting, he sneaked into her bedroom through an open window while her parents were away. During this clandestine meeting, Johns spent the evening with her, offering gifts and eventually engaging in a sexual relationship with the 14-year-old girl. The court described his actions as persistent and manipulative, highlighting his willingness to exploit vulnerable minors.

In his defense, Johns' legal team argued that the extended license period of eight years was excessive, especially considering his lifelong registration as a sex offender and his participation in prison-based treatment programs aimed at reducing his risk of reoffending. Judge Peter Rook QC, presiding over the appeal at London's Appeal Court, acknowledged these points but ultimately decided to cut the supervised release period to three years, citing the potential for rehabilitation through treatment.

Judge Rook stated, “In this case, the judge accepted the view of the author of the pre-sentence report that the sexual offenders’ programme would be able to reduce the risk the appellant poses to an acceptable level.”

Earlier in 2011, Johns had also been convicted of grooming a 14-year-old girl for sex, sneaking into her bedroom while her parents were at home. He was sentenced to four years in prison for this offense. During that trial, it was revealed that Johns had approached the girl via Facebook, and at the time of the offenses, he was already on bail for attempting to groom two other underage girls. Johns pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual activity with a minor, with additional charges related to grooming also taken into consideration.

Judge Philip Wassall described Johns’ conduct as persistent and manipulative, emphasizing that he had managed to wear down the resistance of one of the girls despite her initial refusal. The court heard that Johns had offered money and tobacco to lure the girls into meeting him, and he had persuaded a third girl to send him a provocative photograph. The police were alerted after the girl’s mother discovered the visits and the inappropriate messages.

In mitigation, Johns’ defense argued that he had shown remorse by pleading guilty early, had no prior convictions, and was an unsophisticated individual living an isolated life. Despite this, the court imposed an extended license of eight years, which would run consecutively to his prison sentence, resulting in a total of ten years of supervision. Johns was also ordered to remain on the sex offenders' register for life and to comply with the Sexual Offences Prevention Order until further notice, reflecting the serious nature of his crimes and the ongoing risk he poses to the community.