Abingdon man found guilty of historic sexual offences

An Oxfordshire man, John Westland, residing in Horseshoes Close, Appleton near Abingdon, was recently found guilty of engaging in sexual activity with a girl who was only 13 years old during the late 1990s. The trial revealed that Westland, aged 61, denied the charges throughout proceedings. The victim, who opted not to be named for legal reasons, remarked, “The starting point was I found out he never went to prison. When I found out he hadn’t gone to prison that’s when I pursued it.” It was reported that the incidents first came to police attention in the late 1990s, but the victim only learned in 2022 that Westland had not served a prison sentence for the offences. Westland’s guilty verdict is significant given the long timespan since the crimes occurred. He will face sentencing at Oxford Crown Court on Monday, December 16. This case has drawn considerable attention due to the historic nature of the offences and the victim's persistence in seeking justice. Westland's refusal to admit guilt and the delayed conviction highlight issues around the prosecution of historical sex crimes.