August 2018 Paedophile pensioner jailed for raping young child A paedophile pensioner has been locked up for more than 13 years after a jury found him guilty of raping a young child. John Eyre, from Goudhurst, had denied carrying out a string of sexual offences between June 2008 and June 2010, but was found guilty following a trial. Allegations of abuse were first reported to Kent Police last year, leading to the arrest of the 73-year-old on February 27, 2017. Eyre, of North Road, was subsequently charged and appeared before Maidstone Crown Court where he pleaded not guilty to rape, causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and a further count of sexual assault of a child. The case went to trial and today a jury convicted him by unanimous verdict. Eyre was then sentenced to 13-and-a-half years in prison. He was also added to the sex offenders’ register indefinitely and an order was passed barring him from working with children.