JOHN ASPIN'S HORRIFIC CHILD SEX ABUSE IN SOUTHPORT REVEALED IN COURT

In June 2017, a disturbing case involving the sexual abuse of young boys at a guest house in Southport came to light during a court hearing at Liverpool Crown Court. The defendant, John Aspin, aged 66 and residing on Knowsley Road in Southport, was found guilty of multiple historic sexual offences committed over several years. His partner, Bill Bryant, who has since passed away, was also implicated in the abuse but was unable to stand trial due to his death, which prevented justice from being fully served for his victims.

Today’s proceedings shed light on the heinous acts carried out by Aspin and Bryant, which have left deep scars on their victims. The court heard that Aspin and Bryant operated a guest house in Southport, where they engaged in depraved and manipulative behaviors towards vulnerable boys. One victim recounted how Aspin and Bryant had drugged him with alcohol and drugs before subjecting him to a sinister sexual encounter involving a threesome. The same victim described how the pair later took a second boy to the basement of a friend's hotel, where he was subjected to violent sexual acts against his will.

Following a trial that lasted over two weeks, Aspin was convicted of nine historic sexual offences, including indecent assault and buggery, committed when the victims were just 14 years old. The court was told that Aspin showed no visible reaction when the verdicts were read, but supporters in the gallery, mostly women, were overwhelmed with emotion and broke down in tears. The judge, Neil Flewitt, QC, ordered Aspin to be remanded in custody until June 30 for a probation report, which would help determine the severity of his sentence. The judge emphasized that Aspin faced a lengthy prison term, given the gravity of his crimes.

One of the victims, now an adult, bravely testified about the lasting impact of the abuse. He described feeling “a paralysing sense of fear” when he was invited to an event attended by Aspin and Bryant as an adult. He revealed that as a 14-year-old, he was manipulated, abused, and raped, and that these experiences profoundly affected his life. The victim shared that he had struggled with addiction, depression, and even attempted suicide, all stemming from his childhood trauma. He expressed a deep sense of regret and emotional pain, stating, “This was the first time I had accepted the fact that as a 14-year-old, I had been sexually manipulated, abused and raped.” He also reflected on how the abuse hindered his ability to form healthy relationships and left him feeling insecure. Despite seeking counseling, the memories remain vivid, and he described feeling overwhelmed by the realization that he was a victim of child abuse.

Another victim, who also came forward, described carrying the burden of what happened to him for many years. He recounted how Aspin and Bryant continued to exert control over him even after the assaults, intimidating and insulting him due to their perceived power and connections. He expressed regret for not reporting the abuse sooner, explaining that he was afraid of being labeled as gay, which he believed would negatively impact his family. The victim recounted a panic attack he experienced when he saw Aspin and Bryant while out shopping, which left him emotionally shattered. He emphasized that the trauma has shaped his current behavior, making it difficult for him to accept compliments or trust others, as he associates such gestures with the manipulative tactics used by his abusers.

In the courtroom, Aspin showed no visible remorse. The prosecution highlighted that Aspin and Bryant’s actions were part of a pattern of predatory behavior, with the victims being entirely unknown to each other, yet suffering similar abuse. The court also noted that Bryant, who lived with Aspin, was charged with seven indecent assault offences but died last year before he could stand trial. The jury, consisting of seven women and five men, deliberated for nearly nine hours before reaching a unanimous verdict. Aspin was convicted of three counts of indecent assault and two counts of buggery involving one victim, and two counts of indecent assault and buggery involving the other. He was acquitted of two other charges.

Prosecutor Ben Jones explained that the case was particularly compelling because of the similarities in the victims’ accounts, despite their different personalities and life paths. One victim, a talented dancer, recounted how Aspin and Bryant molested him at a dance competition in Blackpool and later at the Floral Hall in Southport. He described how Aspin and Bryant invited him to a nearby premises where they raped him after offering him alcohol and drugs. The other victim, who also came from a dance background, was abused at the Nirvana guest house in Southport, where Aspin and Bryant had connections to dance events. He detailed how Aspin and Bryant sexually assaulted him in the guest house and later at a different location.

The court heard that the abuse had a profound and lasting impact on both victims. The dancer expressed that he finally realized he was a victim of child abuse and described feeling like a scared 14-year-old when recalling the events. The second victim, whose abuse was disclosed after his mother mentioned a previous complaint, revealed that he had kept his trauma hidden for years, fearing judgment and the impact on his family. Both men described how the abuse affected their emotional well-being, leading to feelings of anger, frustration, and reclusiveness. Aspin vehemently denied all allegations, claiming he had never even met the second victim, but the court found the evidence against him compelling enough for conviction.