March 2015 Runcorn rapist jailed for 20 years for a catalogue of historic sexual assaults on two girls John Kenny, aged 48, of Farnhill Close, Windmill Hill was found guilty of four charges of rape, 12 counts of indecent assault and two charges of gross indecency at Chester Crown Court on March 10 and sentenced the following day. Claire Lindley, chief crown prosecutor with Mersey-Cheshire Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), said: “Kenny used and abused these two women from when they were as young as eight-years-old. “He did this for his own gratification with no thought of the impact it was having on them. “They tried to tell other adults what was happening but Kenny always denied their allegations and convinced others that the girls were lying. “His actions, back in the 1970s and 1980s, have devastated the lives of these women.” She said the investigation started in 2012 and involved considerable work building the case. Two earlier trials faltered for a variety of reasons. Case workers supported both victims through the delays. Mrs Lindley said: “The eventual conviction and sentence of Kenny has made that long journey worthwhile for all involved and a testament to the strength of the case built by the CPS and Cheshire Police. “I would like to thank the two victims for their courage and determination to see this case through. “They have expressed their thanks for simply being believed after all these years. “The CPS treats allegations of sexual abuse very seriously, no matter how long ago the offences took place. “We hope that this conviction and others like it give victims the courage to seek justice.” DC Greg Thomas said: “Cases of this nature often go unreported due to the fact that victims feel that they will not be believed, and due to the very nature of offences victims can find it extremely difficult to talk about what they had been subjected too. “Both victims have shown great strength and dignity throughout the investigation. “It is hoped that victims of sexual abuse will see that cases of this nature are taken serious and that there are agencies including police who are willing to listen and support them through the court process.”