November 2014 Jailed for life: Pervert who raped 11-year-old boy in toilets of Manchester Arndale A pensioner has been given a life sentence for raping an 11-year-old boy in the toilets of the Manchester Arndale. John Richard Ferrier, 69, was on bail after being accused of raping another child when he carried out the attack. He now faces the prospect of dying behind bars after being ordered to serve to life in prison with a minimum term of eight years. Manchester Crown Court heard how predator Ferrier approached the schoolboy in the toilets of the shopping centre on Thursday, October 18, last year. After the boy refused to go into a cubicle, Ferrier dragged him inside one and attacked him. Horrified witnesses who overheard the assault raced to find security guards, who detained Ferrier for 30 minutes until police arrived. However, the terrified victim took off as soon as he was able to escape his attacker’s clutches. But police officers tracked down the victim with just a description of his school uniform and were able to coax him into revealing what happened after visiting his school. The court heard how Ferrier carried out the attack while on bail awaiting trial for sexually abusing and raping a 11 year old girl. He was later convicted of that offence and is currently serving a 16 year prison sentence. Ferrier, of Ormskirk Road, Wigan, will spend his remaining years in jail after now being sentenced for the second offence. The boy’s mum described her heartache, revealing how she had allowed her son to walk home from school instead of collecting him up as normal. She said: “I felt guilty because I normally picked him up but hadn’t been able to because I had been ill. “When the attack happened he was a lot quieter and we suspected something was wrong but had no idea about the attack until the police came. “He has been doing a lot better and we are working through it as a family.” Police believe predator Ferrier may have spotted his victim in Piccadilly Gardens and pursued him into the shopping centre. Det Con Simon France, from GMP’s Serious Sexual Offences Unit, said: “I would like to commend the victim who with the support of his family and specially trained officers had the courage to come forward and tell police what happened to him. “He is a young boy who has had a terrifying ordeal and it was not easy for him to admit what had happened. With his support we have been able to bring Ferrier before the courts and he will now spend a substantial period of time in prison. “I would also like to thank members of the public and the staff at Manchester Arndale as it was due to their quick actions that meant a dangerous man was stopped and arrested at the scene.” May 2014 ‘Danger’ paedophile gets 16 years in jail A PAEDOPHILE pensioner who repeatedly abused a young girl, including raping her, has been caged for 16 years. A judge told John Ferrier that he viewed him as a dangerous offender but because of his age would not make an indefinite sentence as he will already be an old man when his prison terms ends. The girl, who was 11, was “particularly vulnerable to sexual exploitation and that is the person you cynically choose to take advantage of,” said Judge Robert Trevor-Jones. Ferrier, 69, had groomed the girl and abused her at his flat in Pemberton above an Indian takeaway. His depraved behaviour also included taking the youngster to a Manchester to buy sex toys, including handcuffs, and pornographic magazines and watched pornography with her. The offences came to light in April last year and although the girl was initially reluctant to reveal what had been happening she did so and her police interviews were recorded on video. Ferrier, of Ormskirk Road, Pemberton, pleaded not guilty to rape and eight other offences involving sexual abuse but was convicted last month after a trial at Liverpool Crown Court. Judge Trevor-Jones pointed out that his denials means that the girl had been “compelled to attend court and give evidence and be branded a liar.” He ordered Ferrier to sign on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life and imposed an indefinite Sexual Offences Prevention Order keeping him away from under 16-year-olds. Paul Becker, defending, said that Ferrier, has no previous convictions but accepted that one was inevitable. He has health problems including high blood pressure, arthritis and heart disease. He maintains his innocence, he added.