JOHN LYON SENTENCED TO LIFE FOR CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE IN ENFIELD
| Red Rose Database
Enfield Rapist
A man identified as John Lyon has been sentenced to life imprisonment after a lengthy and disturbing campaign of sexual abuse involving children in Enfield. Lyon, aged 50, appeared via videolink at the Old Bailey on Friday to face justice for his crimes, which spanned nearly two decades and included the abuse of seven young children.
The court heard that Lyon’s vile actions involved rape and indecent assaults, including the horrific abuse of an eleven-year-old girl whose trauma and suffering have persisted over many years. The sentencing marked his third appearance before the courts, indicative of the pattern of predatory behavior he exhibited over a prolonged period. It is noteworthy that Lyon had previously been imprisoned for similar offenses, illustrating a disturbing pattern of repeated offending.
Judge Brian Cummings KC imposed a life sentence with a minimum term of 15 years, explicitly stating that Lyon’s actions constituted a 'campaign of extremely serious child sexual offending.' The judge emphasized the gravity of Lyon’s conduct, which he described as involving seven young victims. He also warned that whether Lyon would ever be released from prison is a decision solely for the parole board, making it clear that there is no certainty or guarantee of his release in the future.
Lyon had worked as a caretaker at St Andrew’s Church of England Primary School located on Churchbury Lane, Enfield, for twelve years. This position of trust was exploited by Lyon to facilitate his ongoing abuse. The Old Bailey heard that Lyon was first convicted in 2013 for abusing children aged six and seven, where he had used his role as a caretaker to commit his offenses. He received a 12-year prison sentence at that time.
In 2021, Lyon was brought before the courts again after allegations of further abuse involving four more children, including a four-year-old. The subsequent sentence for these crimes was an additional 11 years behind bars. It was during this period that a seventh victim came forward, revealing she had been abused in the early 2000s.
According to prosecutor Tim Starkey, the abuse inflicted by Lyon on the girl began when she was just eleven years old. By the time she reached thirteen, Lyon had started raping her. She recounted to police that she lost count of the number of times he assaulted her. The girl recounted that Lyon initially groped her under the guise of playing hide-and-seek, and on one occasion, took her to a damp, muddy forest cabin for sex. She described the cabin as a 'horrible, damp, and dirty' space, and admitted to feeling scared during these encounters, noting that Lyon was aware of her fear.
During the sentencing hearing, the victim delivered an emotional impact statement, stating, 'He groomed me to be able to exploit me for his own selfish, repulsive urges.'
The court review also considered a 2021 assessment indicating that Lyon still posed a significant risk of reoffending, even after spending over seven years in prison. The report highlighted Lyon’s inability to acknowledge any sexual attraction to female children, instead attributing his behavior to substance misuse.
Lyon pleaded guilty to four counts of rape and seven counts of indecent assault. Detective Constable Andri Andreou from the North Area Command Unit, who led the investigation, commented on the case, saying, 'There is no doubt John Lyon is a dangerous sexual predator who will always pose a significant risk to children. The safest option for everyone is that he spends the rest of his life in prison.' He also added that the trauma inflicted upon the victim is profound and ongoing, emphasizing that, even after many years, the suffering caused by Lyon’s actions continues to affect her deeply.
The court heard that Lyon’s vile actions involved rape and indecent assaults, including the horrific abuse of an eleven-year-old girl whose trauma and suffering have persisted over many years. The sentencing marked his third appearance before the courts, indicative of the pattern of predatory behavior he exhibited over a prolonged period. It is noteworthy that Lyon had previously been imprisoned for similar offenses, illustrating a disturbing pattern of repeated offending.
Judge Brian Cummings KC imposed a life sentence with a minimum term of 15 years, explicitly stating that Lyon’s actions constituted a 'campaign of extremely serious child sexual offending.' The judge emphasized the gravity of Lyon’s conduct, which he described as involving seven young victims. He also warned that whether Lyon would ever be released from prison is a decision solely for the parole board, making it clear that there is no certainty or guarantee of his release in the future.
Lyon had worked as a caretaker at St Andrew’s Church of England Primary School located on Churchbury Lane, Enfield, for twelve years. This position of trust was exploited by Lyon to facilitate his ongoing abuse. The Old Bailey heard that Lyon was first convicted in 2013 for abusing children aged six and seven, where he had used his role as a caretaker to commit his offenses. He received a 12-year prison sentence at that time.
In 2021, Lyon was brought before the courts again after allegations of further abuse involving four more children, including a four-year-old. The subsequent sentence for these crimes was an additional 11 years behind bars. It was during this period that a seventh victim came forward, revealing she had been abused in the early 2000s.
According to prosecutor Tim Starkey, the abuse inflicted by Lyon on the girl began when she was just eleven years old. By the time she reached thirteen, Lyon had started raping her. She recounted to police that she lost count of the number of times he assaulted her. The girl recounted that Lyon initially groped her under the guise of playing hide-and-seek, and on one occasion, took her to a damp, muddy forest cabin for sex. She described the cabin as a 'horrible, damp, and dirty' space, and admitted to feeling scared during these encounters, noting that Lyon was aware of her fear.
During the sentencing hearing, the victim delivered an emotional impact statement, stating, 'He groomed me to be able to exploit me for his own selfish, repulsive urges.'
The court review also considered a 2021 assessment indicating that Lyon still posed a significant risk of reoffending, even after spending over seven years in prison. The report highlighted Lyon’s inability to acknowledge any sexual attraction to female children, instead attributing his behavior to substance misuse.
Lyon pleaded guilty to four counts of rape and seven counts of indecent assault. Detective Constable Andri Andreou from the North Area Command Unit, who led the investigation, commented on the case, saying, 'There is no doubt John Lyon is a dangerous sexual predator who will always pose a significant risk to children. The safest option for everyone is that he spends the rest of his life in prison.' He also added that the trauma inflicted upon the victim is profound and ongoing, emphasizing that, even after many years, the suffering caused by Lyon’s actions continues to affect her deeply.