JOHN CULL, CHOLDERTON PEDOPHILE, SENTENCED TO OVER 13 YEARS FOR HISTORIC CHILD SEX ABUSE

In a case that has shocked the quiet community of Cholderton, John Cull, a man once regarded as a respected member of the local society, has been convicted of multiple historic child sex abuse charges. The 77-year-old resident of Amesbury Road faced a jury at Winchester Crown Court, where he was found guilty on 18 counts of rape and sexual assault committed over a span of 15 years during the 1970s and 1980s.

Despite maintaining his innocence and pleading not guilty to all charges, Cull was convicted on all counts after the jury deliberated. The trial, which commenced on September 1, 2020, culminated in a verdict delivered on Wednesday, September 9. The jury had previously retired on September 8 to carefully consider the evidence presented during the proceedings.

Following the verdict, Judge A J Barnett, the Recorder of Salisbury, handed down a substantial sentence. Cull was sentenced to a total of 51 years and eight months in prison. However, because all sentences are to be served concurrently, Cull will serve a minimum of 13 years behind bars, along with an additional year on extended licence. Furthermore, he was ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register indefinitely, reflecting the severity of his crimes.

The sentencing took into account the fact that the offenses occurred decades ago, and therefore, the laws in place at the time were used to determine the appropriate punishment. Under current legislation, the maximum penalty for such crimes could be life imprisonment, highlighting the gravity of Cull’s actions.

The court heard harrowing testimony from Cull’s victim, who recounted her experiences to police. She described how, as a young girl, Cull had asked her to select what he wanted to do to her from a pornographic magazine, likening it to choosing from a catalogue. She revealed that as a four-year-old, Cull would “stroke” her private parts over her underwear, and from the age of eight, he forced her to lie across his lap on the sofa without any pants.

The victim further detailed how Cull began assaulting her with his fingers, sometimes “nicking” her during the abuse. She was also made to wear adult lingerie and touch Cull inappropriately. She described Cull’s behavior as that of a “teacher,” claiming he taught her how to perform oral sex and showed her his semen. The court was also told that Cull would make “sexual phone calls” to her, pretending to be a stranger, adding to the trauma she endured.

She described the assaults as feeling like she was “being torn apart” and having her “brain burnt,” expressing that she “died a thousand deaths to survive it.”

Prior to the trial, anonymous sources characterized Cull as a “longstanding pillar of the community,” noting his involvement as President and Treasurer of various local organizations and his participation in a village playgroup committee. These descriptions contrasted sharply with the reality of his crimes, which have now been brought to justice.

After the sentence was announced, Cull was taken from the courtroom to begin serving his prison term, marking a significant moment of justice for his victim and the community of Cholderton.