JOHN MADIN FROM PRESTON SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX ABUSE IN DERBYSHIRE

In December 2016, a disturbing case emerged involving John Madin, a man from Preston, who was convicted of heinous crimes committed against a young girl in Derbyshire during the mid-1980s. The court heard that Madin, now aged 63, had subjected the girl to a series of sexual abuses, beginning with inappropriate physical contact and escalating to rape when she was only six years old.

Prosecutor Clive Stockwell detailed that Madin initially showed the girl affection through gestures such as kissing and cuddling. However, these acts soon progressed to more invasive behaviors, including rubbing her chest and engaging in sexual acts over and under her clothing. The abuse reportedly occurred on at least ten separate occasions, with the victim enduring this trauma in silence for many years.

The victim confided in her family and her general practitioner (GP) about the abuse when she was approximately 16 years old, but unfortunately, no immediate action was taken at that time. It was only after she disclosed the details to a counsellor more than three decades later that the authorities were alerted. This delay in reporting allowed the abuse to remain unpunished for many years.

John Madin was eventually arrested following her disclosure to the counsellor. During police interviews, he chose to remain silent, offering no comments to questions posed to him. Subsequently, he pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including the rape of a child and ten counts of sexual abuse against the young girl.

At Derby Crown Court, Judge Jonathan Bennett sentenced Madin to ten years in prison. In his remarks, the judge expressed serious concern about Madin’s understanding of the gravity of his actions. He stated, "There are some elements of what I have read about you that seriously disturb me. I have read your pre-sentence report and you do not seem to fully understand why you are here because you have apologised and made an out-of-court settlement. That shows a total lack of understanding of the effect of what you did has had on your victim. This was a vulnerable child, a little girl with difficulties, and you took advantage of that."

Judge Bennett further criticized Madin’s perception, noting that he even suggested the girl was deliberately engaging in sexual activity, which was entirely false given her age. The court recognized Madin’s disturbed thinking and assessed him as posing a high risk to the public.

Details of the abuse reveal that Madin’s actions began with gestures of affection that gradually became more invasive. The victim, who struggled with difficulties, kept her ordeal secret until she was 16, when she finally confided in her family and her GP. Despite her disclosures, no immediate legal action was taken at the time. It was only after her further disclosures to a counsellor that the case was pursued.

Madin was represented by defense counsel Michelle Brown, who acknowledged that her client committed these offenses when he was much younger. She explained that Madin, who became a Jehovah’s Witness in 2011, had no record of similar offenses in the intervening years and that his guilty plea at the earliest opportunity was a significant mitigating factor. She also noted that Madin expressed remorse for his actions.

As of the sentencing, Derbyshire police were unable to provide a custody photograph of Madin. The case highlights the long-lasting impact of childhood abuse and the importance of timely intervention to protect vulnerable victims.