JOHN BURDEN FROM DUNSTABLE SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS FOR SEXUAL ABUSE IN LUTON

In a significant case that has shocked the community of Dunstable, John Burden, a 49-year-old man residing on Maidenbower Avenue, has been handed down a lengthy prison sentence of 20 years for a series of serious sexual offenses. The conviction follows a detailed two-week trial held at Luton Crown Court, where Burden was found guilty of nine counts related to rape and sexual abuse.

According to court records, Burden's crimes spanned over a period of several years, primarily during the 1980s and 1990s. The victims, two young women, were subjected to grooming from a young age, with Burden exploiting their vulnerability over an extended period. The abuse included both grooming and multiple instances of rape, with both women being under the age of 16 at the time of the assaults.

The court heard that Burden's abusive behavior did not cease after the initial incidents. Instead, he continued to inflict sexual abuse on the victims for many subsequent years, causing lasting trauma and emotional scars. The jury found him guilty of five counts of rape and four counts of sexual assault, reflecting the severity and duration of his crimes.

The sentence handed down by the court is a combined term of 20 years in prison, followed by an additional five years on license, which is intended to provide supervision and monitoring after his release. This sentence will commence once Burden has completed the remaining four years of a previous sentence for violent disorder, which he received in January. The court's decision underscores the gravity of his offenses and the community's need for justice and protection from such predatory behavior.