JOHN DOHERTY LLANDUDNO SEX OFFENDER SENTENCED FOR ABUSE OF SEVEN-YEAR-OLD GIRL

In a case that has shocked the community of Llandudno, John Doherty, a 77-year-old man with a long history of community service, was sentenced to five years in prison for serious sexual offenses committed against a young girl. The incidents, which took place during the 1990s, involved Doherty engaging in inappropriate sexual acts with a seven-year-old girl, acts that he now claims were misunderstood and that he was, in fact, the victim of blackmail by the child.

John Doherty, a former part-time firefighter who had served for over fifty years, was arrested in October of the previous year following a formal complaint made by the now-teenage victim. During police interviews, Doherty bizarrely insisted that he was the one being victimized, alleging that the girl had attempted to extort him. He further claimed that when she was seven, she had initiated sexual contact by placing her hand on him, and that he had merely gone along with her behavior, attempting to push her away but ultimately succumbing.

The court heard that the abuse took place in secluded locations around Llandudno, including a wooded mountain area and an attic space where a mattress had been set up. The defendant admitted to engaging in various sexual acts with the girl, asserting that it was not technically sex because there was no penetration. The abuse reportedly continued over a period of four years, until the girl, by then aged 11, confronted Doherty about his actions, bringing the long-standing misconduct to an end.

Despite the gravity of the allegations, Doherty’s wife of 48 years stood by him throughout the proceedings. The court was informed that he had no prior criminal record and that he had never been involved in any trouble before. His defense argued that he had made comments during police interviews that did not help his case and that he was approaching his 78th birthday in June. The defense also highlighted that there was no physical coercion or pain involved, and that Doherty had ceased his inappropriate behavior ten years before the matter was reported to authorities.

Prosecutor Gareth Parry detailed that the offenses occurred in private locations around Llandudno, including a wooded mountain and an attic space, where Doherty engaged in sexual acts with the young girl. He told her that what they were doing was not sex because there was no penetration. The case came to light when the victim, now an adult woman, made a formal complaint a decade later. During the trial, Doherty claimed that the girl had initiated the contact and that he had tried to push her away, but he ultimately went along with her actions.

Judge John Rogers, QC, addressed Doherty directly, stating that he did not accept the defendant’s claims that the victim was at fault. The judge emphasized the seriousness of the case, noting that Doherty had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity, which was taken into account along with his age and health issues. Nonetheless, the judge made it clear that a substantial prison sentence was unavoidable given the nature and duration of the abuse. Doherty was also ordered to register as a sex offender for life, reflecting the gravity of his crimes and the need for ongoing monitoring to protect the community of Llandudno from any future risk.

In conclusion, the court’s decision underscores the importance of justice for victims of sexual abuse, regardless of the perpetrator’s age or social standing. The case serves as a stark reminder of the long-lasting impact such crimes can have on victims and the necessity of holding offenders accountable, even many years after the offenses occurred.