JOHN SAWYER'S REIGN OF TERROR IN YORK ENDS WITH 17-YEAR PRISON SENTENCE

In a harrowing case that spanned over three decades, John Sawyer, a 66-year-old man from York, has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term after being convicted of multiple charges related to the sexual and physical abuse of a young girl. The York Crown Court heard how Sawyer, who resided on Vincent Way in the Foxwood area, evaded justice for more than 30 years despite the victim’s repeated attempts to seek help.

It was only after the victim, who was a primary school pupil at the time of the abuse, provided evidence against Sawyer on two separate occasions that he was finally brought to justice. The court was told that Sawyer subjected the girl to a brutal reign of terror, which included both physical violence and sexual assault. Recorder Caroline Wigin described the abuse as a pattern of control and humiliation, stating, “You were violent to this child… she was subjected to humiliation at your hands, you controlled her… by imposing a reign of terror.”

She detailed the severity of Sawyer’s violence, recounting that he had burned her hand with a cigarette, kicked her, and told her that no one would hear her cries. The court also heard that on one occasion, Sawyer stabbed her fingers with scissors and falsely claimed it was an accident. The abuse escalated from physical violence to sexual misconduct, with Sawyer engaging in acts of sexual abuse against the young girl.

Following a trial in May, a jury found Sawyer guilty of several charges, including rape and indecent assault, charges he had previously denied. The court sentenced him to an extended term of 16 years in prison, with an additional year of supervision after his release. Furthermore, Sawyer was ordered to register as a sex offender for life and was subjected to a lifelong sexual harm prevention order, which prohibits him from contacting any girl under the age of 16.

During the proceedings, it was revealed that Sawyer’s health was in decline, with medical reports indicating he suffers from chronic shoulder pain and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The judge emphasized that the abuse began with physical violence, but as the victim grew increasingly terrified, Sawyer’s actions turned to rape and sexual humiliation. The girl, now an adult woman, finally reported the abuse to the police in 2014 after decades of silence. She was motivated by concerns for other children in Sawyer’s family, who were around the same age she was when the abuse occurred, fearing they might also be at risk.

Prior to this conviction, Sawyer faced a separate trial at York Crown Court last September, where the jury was unable to reach verdicts on the sexual charges. He was acquitted of causing actual bodily harm to the girl when she was very young. Despite the mixed outcomes, the court’s decision marks a significant step in delivering justice for Sawyer’s long-suffering victim.