JOHN REAR JAILED FOR SEXUAL OFFENCES AGAINST GIRLS IN LEICESTER

In a case that has spanned several decades, John Douglas Rear, a resident of The Portwey, Northfields, Leicester, has been convicted and sentenced for serious sexual offences committed against two young girls during the 1980s. The crimes, which involved the sexual assault of two nine-year-old girls, have left lasting scars on the victims, and the legal proceedings have brought some measure of justice after years of silence and suffering.

Rear, now 53 years old, was brought to justice after a police investigation was initiated following a report from the husband of one of the victims. The husband, who had become aware of the abuse, decided to take action and approached law enforcement authorities two years prior to his court appearance. The case was thoroughly examined, leading to Rear's arrest and subsequent trial at Leicester Crown Court.

During the trial, Rear faced eight charges of indecent assault, all of which he denied. However, after a detailed trial that concluded on April 30, the jury found him guilty of all counts. The severity of the offences was underscored by the impact they had on the victims, who have struggled with depression and difficulty forming relationships as a result of the trauma inflicted upon them.

On the day of sentencing at Northampton Crown Court, Judge Lynn Tayton addressed Rear directly, emphasizing the gravity of his crimes. She stated, “These offences are so serious there is no alternative to a custodial sentence. The victims have suffered great damage by what happened to them. They have suffered from depression and found it very difficult to form relationships. They still suffer from the impact of what happened.”

Judge Tayton detailed that four of the offences against one girl occurred when she was aged nine and ten, while three offences against the other girl took place when she was between nine and eleven. A final offence against the second victim was committed when she was 18 years old. The judge explained that the sentencing options were limited because the crimes occurred before the enactment of the 2003 Sexual Offences Act, which increased penalties for such offences. Nonetheless, Rear was sentenced to five years in prison, with each of the eight offences resulting in a separate jail term, all to be served concurrently.

In addition to his prison sentence, Rear was ordered to register as a sex offender indefinitely and was banned from working with children or vulnerable adults. His legal representative, Sarah Porter, highlighted that Rear had a previously good character and pointed out his health issues, including glaucoma, which has left him blind in his right eye and with only 30 percent vision in his left eye. She noted that no incidents had occurred in the 23 years since the offences.

Following the sentencing, the husband of one of the victims expressed relief and a sense of justice. He said, “At last, justice has been done for my wife. She was deeply traumatised by what happened and no one believed her. Now they will know the truth. But it has had a devastating effect on her life, and she still suffers from depression. She had to have time off work during the trial because he denied the offences and she has had to relive what she went through. We are shocked he cannot be given a longer sentence as the offences were charged under old laws.”

The detective leading the investigation, Detective Constable Chris Coates, praised the bravery of the victims. He stated, “Both women have been incredibly strong and have shown tremendous courage in coming forward and reporting to police what happened to them. I am pleased that the victims’ patience and understanding, in what has been a long and complex investigation, has helped us achieve this conviction against Rear. It is never too late for someone to come forward if they have been a victim of child abuse. Today shows we do take these incidents seriously and we can still bring someone before the courts and justice can be done for anyone else who has been a victim of similar abuse.”

Rear was released from custody in July 2016, having served part of his sentence, and remains on the sex offender register indefinitely, with restrictions on his employment and contact with vulnerable individuals in Leicester and beyond.