JOHN CREAGH FROM ORMSKIRK AND WIGAN SENTENCED FOR CHILD ABUSE IN BERKSHIRE AND SCOUTING SCANDAL

In a case that has spanned decades and involved multiple locations, John Creagh, an 81-year-old man with ties to Ormskirk and Wigan, has been convicted and sentenced for serious sexual offenses committed against young boys. The investigation, carried out by Thames Valley Police, culminated in a court ruling that has brought justice to the victims and highlighted the long-lasting impact of his actions.

Creagh was found guilty of two counts of indecent assault on a boy under the age of 16, with the crimes having taken place in Berkshire during the 1980s. Over several years, he subjected his young victim to repeated acts of indecency, causing profound trauma. The trial, which lasted a week at Reading Crown Court, concluded with a unanimous jury verdict. The court sentenced him to five years and six months in prison for these offenses. It is noteworthy that he was acquitted of a separate charge of indecent assault involving another boy under 16.

The charges against Creagh were formally brought on June 5, 2016, following a lengthy investigation into his past conduct. His criminal history also includes a previous conviction from 1992, when he was sentenced to nine months in prison for molesting a boy at a Roman Catholic boarding school in Berkshire. This earlier conviction was part of a pattern of disturbing behavior that spanned several decades.

Further details emerged during the court proceedings, revealing Creagh’s involvement in scouting activities in Ormskirk during the 1970s. As a scoutmaster, he was highly regarded within the community and had ingratiated himself into the lives of local families. However, beneath this facade, he engaged in heinous acts of sexual abuse against three scouts. These assaults occurred when he was in his late 30s, and the victims only came forward many years later, in 2016.

Judge Norman Wright addressed the court, condemning Creagh’s actions and emphasizing the betrayal of trust involved. He stated, “For your own selfish sexual desires, you have cast a blight over the lives of some of those boys. This was a gross breach of trust. You were the scoutmaster charged with the welfare of the young scouts in your care, and you totally abused that position.”

The court heard harrowing accounts from the victims, who recounted how Creagh had inappropriately touched them and used manipulative tactics to groom them. One victim described how Creagh had grabbed him over his clothing in a scout hut when they were alone. Later, Creagh repeatedly assaulted him at his home in St Helens Road, after showing him pornographic magazines. The victim explained that he did not report the abuse at the time because he believed no one would believe him.

Another victim recounted a camping trip in Wales, where he thought other children would be present but ended up sharing a tent with Creagh. During this trip, Creagh had a stash of pornography and asked the boy whether he was a “bad boy” before sexually assaulting him. The boy described feeling terrified and trying to protect himself by wrapping himself in his sleeping bag, but he was too embarrassed to seek help immediately.

Creagh’s pattern of abuse extended further when he groomed a third scout with gifts such as records and took him to the cinema. These acts culminated in sexual assaults that left lasting scars. After leaving Ormskirk, Creagh was ordained as a priest and took on the role of deputy house master at Douai Abbey School, a Benedictine-run boarding school in Reading. There, he continued his predatory behavior, targeting a 12-year-old boy in similar circumstances.

He pleaded guilty to five counts of indecent assault and admitted to gross indecency. In his defense, his lawyer stated that Creagh had completed an eight-month residential sex offenders course run by the church. Supporters, including his boyfriend who was present in the courtroom, claimed that his remorse was genuine.

As part of his sentence, Judge Wright imposed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order and ordered Creagh to sign the Sex Offenders Register for life. This case underscores the importance of vigilance and the need for justice in cases of child abuse, regardless of how much time has passed since the offenses occurred.