September 2011 Child rapist went on to lead respectable life until victim eventually spoke out A PENSIONER who raped a child 50 years ago is today behind bars beginning a 10-year sentence. For more than half a century, former steelworker and Spillers delivery man John Andrews, now aged 80, thought he had got away with his crimes. He brought up a family of his own, had grandchildren and nursed a sick wife until her death. But through all the decades his victims never forgot what happened to them at his hands. And jailing Andrews yesterday, Judge Christopher Llewellyn-Jones QC said it was clear from seeing those victims, who now have grown-up families of their own, that they were still profoundly affected. One had been in hospital following a nervous breakdown and the another has received treatment for depression. “If it had not been for your age, I would have given you 15 years,” he told the paedophile pensioner, who had led a life of outward respectability. The ex-merchant seaman’s wicked sexual attacks on innocent children were hidden until last year when one victim found the courage to at last reveal the truth, and police became involved. Andrews later admitted four offences against one victim and even told the jurors during his trial that he knew he had done wrong but had had “urges” when he was a young man and sexually frustrated. But he always denied there had been other victims. He called their stories wicked lies. But the jury found him guilty of 17 offences, clearing him of four charges and failing to reach verdicts on others. The judge told him: “I take into account there have been no further offences and that you showed care for your wife until the end of her life. “It is your own fault that you have destroyed what’s left of your own life.” Andrews’ name will be in the sex offenders’ register until he dies.