JOHN SIMPSON FROM BISHOP AUCKLAND AND ESH WINNING SENTENCED FOR HISTORIC SEXUAL ABUSE IN DURHAM

In a case that spanned decades, John Simpson, a man with ties to Bishop Auckland and Esh Winning, faced justice for heinous crimes committed in the 1970s. The allegations involved the sexual abuse of two young girls, acts that remained unaddressed for over 40 years before finally coming to light and leading to his arrest.

Simpson, now aged 62, was brought before Durham Crown Court to answer for the serious offenses. The court heard that the initial reports of abuse had been made in 1993, but due to the nature of the case being considered historic, authorities at the time deemed it difficult to gather sufficient evidence for prosecution. As a result, no legal action was taken then, a decision that the prosecution later described as regrettable.

Prosecutor Paul Abrahams expressed remorse for the earlier inaction, stating, “I can only apologise for that from the presiding authorities’ side.” It was only after the victims persisted and the case was reopened that Simpson was finally charged and brought to trial.

During the proceedings, Simpson initially pleaded guilty to eight counts of indecent assault. However, he denied two additional charges, including an allegation of attempted rape, which carries a more severe penalty. The trial was scheduled to commence on November 22, but as the date approached, Simpson decided to change his stance.

On October 5, Simpson announced he would plead guilty to all remaining charges, and on October 11, he formally admitted to the three outstanding counts, including the attempted rape. The court heard that Simpson had attempted to avoid facing full justice by trying to secure a lesser sentence through his initial pleas.

Judge Christopher Prince addressed Simpson’s attempt to manipulate the sentencing process, stating, “You hoped they would capitulate, but, with the trial approaching, it was you who capitulated, trying to obtain such limited credit as there is for a late ‘guilty’ plea.”

Following his conviction, Simpson was sentenced to 19 years in prison. However, senior judges later reduced his sentence by four years in June 2017, bringing it down to a total of 15 years. Despite this reduction, Simpson’s release will be subject to strict conditions. After serving at least half of his sentence, he will be eligible for parole, but he will remain under lifelong notification as a sex offender. Additionally, he will be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which will impose restrictions aimed at preventing any future harm.

Simpson’s current residence is listed as Wesley Grove, Bishop Auckland, but he was previously known to reside in Esh Winning. His case highlights the long-lasting impact of historic abuse cases and the importance of perseverance in seeking justice for victims, regardless of how much time has passed.