JOHN RENEL SENTENCED TO 18 YEARS FOR PREDATORY ABUSE NEAR YORK AND THIRSK
John William Renel, aged 68, was dressed in a tweed jacket when he committed a series of heinous sexual offenses against a young girl at Cundall Manor School, located near York.The details of the case were presented to a jury at York Crown Court by prosecutor Rupert Doswell, who outlined the disturbing events that spanned over two decades ago.
According to the prosecution, the victim, who is legally protected from being named, did not come forward to report the abuse until 2021.
Her delayed disclosure was a result of the profound trauma she endured during her childhood.
She recounted that prior to the assault, she and Renel were engaged in a seemingly innocent exchange in the school kitchen, joking about something.
During this interaction, Renel unexpectedly lifted her up and jokingly claimed he was going to 'throw her in the bin.' He then took her into a corridor and inappropriately touched her on the thigh, near an intimate area, the court heard.
The prosecutor explained that Renel led her into a side room, which was used as a changing or locker room where students typically hang their clothing.
There, he forcibly laid her down on her back, with Renel on top of her, and she vividly remembered him wearing a tweed jacket at the time.
The victim, in her testimony, described turning her head away to stare at the wall as Renel allegedly raped her.
Her family later observed that she had become withdrawn, a change that persisted into adulthood, leading her to seek counseling and therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder.
The court was told that approximately five months after her initial police interview, she contacted authorities again, providing further details about the incident in the school locker room.
She recalled feeling as if Renel’s body was crushing her and struggling to breathe during the assault.
After the incident, Renel reportedly simply walked away, leaving her on the ground.
The victim also remembered another disturbing incident at the school, which occurred when she was older.
In this episode, Renel allegedly picked her up and dropped her onto a bed in a dormitory.
He then laid down beside her, sexually assaulted her, and forced her to place her hand on an intimate part of his body.
Her next memory was of Renel’s face close to hers, with her feeling terrified as he stared and scowled at her.
Before leaving the room, he warned her not to tell anyone about what had happened.
The court heard that Renel, who resides on Main Street in Sessay near Thirsk, initially denied knowing the girl when questioned in 2021.
He claimed he had always worn a tweed jacket while teaching but denied any involvement in the sexual offenses.
Renel faced charges of one count of rape and four counts of sexual assault.
Despite his denials, the jury found him guilty on all counts.
The judge, Recorder Anthony Hawks, immediately sentenced Renel to 18 years in prison.
Additionally, Renel was ordered to register as a sex offender for life and was subjected to a sexual-harm prevention order, which will remain in effect indefinitely to protect children.
It was also revealed that Renel had a prior conviction from 1997, when he was sentenced for three counts of indecent assault against a girl at another school in Keighley, a few years after he left Cundall Manor.
Detective Constable Alison Morris of North Yorkshire Police’s Non-Recent Abuse Investigation Team commented on the case, stating, 'John William Renel is a predatory child abuser who has caused unimaginable trauma to the courageous victim in this case.
I truly hope the outcome at court, along with the significant custodial sentence handed to her perpetrator, provides comfort, strength, and hope for the future.'
