JOHN COWAN, LEWISHAM CHILD SEX OFFENDER, FINALLY JAILED FOR DECADES-OLD ABUSE IN EALING CHILDREN'S HOME

In a significant development in the fight against historic child abuse, John Cowan, a man with a long history of sexual offences, has been convicted and sentenced for his heinous crimes committed decades ago. The offences took place at a children’s home located in Ealing, West London, where Cowan was employed as a 'house father' during the early 1970s, a role that gave him access to some of the most vulnerable children in his care.

Known colloquially as Jock, Cowan exploited his trusted position to carry out a series of disturbing assaults on young children, some as young as five years old. His abuse was carried out in the attic of the home, a place where he preyed on children between 1971 and 1972. The victims, many of whom suffered in silence for years, finally found the courage to come forward after decades of silence, leading to Cowan’s arrest and subsequent conviction.

The breakthrough came when one of Cowan’s victims, who was just seven or eight years old at the time of the assaults, bravely reported her experiences last year. Her testimony prompted a police investigation that uncovered further disturbing details. Authorities identified a total of six victims, including five women aged between five and ten at the time of their abuse, and a young boy who was just six years old. The young boy recounted how Cowan would take him from his bed under the pretense of needing to use the toilet, only to sexually assault him inside the bathroom.

Following a thorough investigation, police charged Cowan in July 2013. The 72-year-old, who resides in Hither Green, Lewisham, faced multiple counts of historic indecent assault and gross indecency. His trial at Harrow Crown Court culminated in a guilty verdict on ten counts of indecent assault and one count of gross indecency. Cowan was sentenced to eight years in prison for his crimes.

Detective Constable Cathy Hewitson, a member of the Child Abuse Investigation Team based in Northwood, expressed her thoughts on the case, emphasizing the exploitation of Cowan’s senior position to abuse children who were already suffering from trauma. She praised the victims for their bravery in coming forward and reliving their painful memories, despite Cowan’s refusal to admit guilt in court. Hewitson also highlighted Cowan’s extensive history of sexual offences, noting that he has 24 previous convictions, including a 12-and-a-half-year sentence in 1994 for 16 counts of sexual assault against children. Cowan is currently on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.

Her remarks also pointed to the likelihood of other victims still coming forward, given Cowan’s history of working in children’s homes across Essex, London, Scotland, and beyond, from the 1970s onwards. She urged anyone with information to contact authorities confidentially, reinforcing that justice can still be served despite the passage of time.

Historically, Cowan’s criminal activities spanned multiple locations, including Chelmsford in Essex during the early 1970s, Linlithgow near Edinburgh in the late 1970s, and Renfrew near Glasgow in the early 1980s. His criminal record is extensive, with a total of 24 convictions for sexual offences against children, making his current imprisonment a significant step in addressing past abuses and protecting future victims.