JOHN OPASZOWOSKI SENTENCED IN BILLINGSHURST FOR SEXUAL ASSAULTS ON GIRLS

In a case that has shocked the community of Billingshurst, a man named John Opaszowoski has been sentenced to seven years in prison for a series of disturbing sexual assaults involving young girls. The incidents, which spanned over a two-year period, involved four girls aged between nine and thirteen, and took place within the West Sussex town.

According to court proceedings held at Lewes Crown Court, Opaszowoski, a 54-year-old former laborer residing on Forge Way in Billingshurst, was found guilty of multiple serious charges. These included indecent assault, acts of indecency with a child, and the taking of indecent photographs of minors. The court was informed that the defendant had manipulated and exploited the girls, whom he had initially befriended under the guise of paying them to assist him in bottling his homemade brew at his flat.

The court heard that Opaszowoski’s method of gaining the girls’ trust involved giving them gifts such as make-up and tobacco, seemingly in an attempt to buy their silence and prevent them from revealing his actions. Despite his efforts to conceal his misconduct, one of the victims confided in her school staff, which led to the authorities being alerted and the subsequent investigation.

Further details revealed that Opaszowoski, a divorced father of one, had a troubling criminal history. He had accumulated eight previous convictions, including a notorious sex attack on a 60-year-old woman in Eastbourne back in 1972, for which he served an 18-month prison sentence. His past crimes and behavior prompted the court to impose additional restrictions upon his release, including registration on the Sex Offenders’ Register and a ban from working with children.

Ultimately, the court’s verdict reflected the severity of his crimes and the harm caused to his young victims. The seven-year prison sentence underscores the gravity with which the justice system views such offenses, especially when committed by someone with a prior criminal record. The case has left a lasting impact on the community of Billingshurst, highlighting the importance of vigilance and safeguarding vulnerable children from predators like John Opaszowoski.