JAMES JOHNSON FROM HORWICH AND RADCLEFCE SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS FOR CHILD SEX ABUSE IN BOLTON

In a case that has shocked the local communities of Horwich and Radcliffe, pensioner James Johnson has been sentenced to a decade behind bars after being convicted of multiple serious sexual offenses committed against a young girl over three decades ago. The verdict was delivered at Bolton Crown Court, where Johnson, aged 71, was found guilty on six counts, including three counts of rape, two counts of indecent assault, and one count of indecency with a child.

Johnson, who resides on Market Street in Radcliffe, appeared in court to hear the verdicts. As the charges were read out, he shook his head, visibly distressed. The judge, William Morris, sentenced him to six months for the charge of indecency, one year for each of the indecent assault counts, and nine years for each of the three rape counts. All sentences are to run concurrently, meaning Johnson will serve a total of ten years in prison.

In addition to his imprisonment, Johnson will be placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register indefinitely and is permanently barred from working with children. The court heard that the offenses took place between 1972 and 1980, a period spanning from when the victim was just six years old until she was 13.

Judge Morris acknowledged the long passage of time since the crimes occurred, noting that Johnson’s age and the historical nature of the offenses influenced the sentencing. He stated, “Had they not been such a long time ago, and had you been a younger man, then the sentence would have been somewhat longer.”

The prosecution, led by Iain Simkin, detailed the horrific abuse that began when the girl was only six years old. According to Mr. Simkin, Johnson initially engaged in inappropriate behavior, starting with a passionate kiss, and told the girl she could do things for him that his wife was unable to do. Over the next several years, the abuse escalated.

Mr. Simkin explained that in 1977, Johnson took the girl to a cafe at Rivington Barn and committed indecency with her in his car. The following year, he assaulted her indecently at Queens Park. The abuse reached a terrifying climax when, at age 13, the girl was in a house in Horwich. Johnson reportedly grabbed her in the kitchen, and when she threatened him with a knife, he disarmed her, held the weapon to her throat, and raped her. During this assault, Johnson allegedly threatened her, warning that if she told anyone, he would do the same to her sister.

The defense argued that the entire story was fabricated, claiming the victim made up the allegations to bond with a new girlfriend who had also suffered childhood abuse. However, after a jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict initially, Judge Morris accepted a majority decision. The jury deliberated for approximately 30 minutes before returning a guilty verdict on all six counts.

Judge Morris condemned Johnson’s actions, describing them as a “gross breach of trust,” and emphasized the severity of the crimes committed against a vulnerable young girl. The sentence reflects the gravity of the offenses and the lasting impact they have had on the victim’s life.