JOHN WHELAN AND THE SHOCKING CHILD SEX ABUSE IN SWINDON
A man from west Swindon named John Whelan has been sentenced to a lengthy term of 19 years in prison for heinous crimes involving the abuse of children.The sentencing took place at Swindon Crown Court on a recent Monday, where Judge Jason Taylor QC did not hold back in condemning Whelan’s actions.
The judge described Whelan’s grooming and manipulation as motivated by a selfish and perverted desire to seek sexual gratification at the expense of his young victims' welfare.
Recent legislative changes mean that the 64-year-old Whelan will serve at least two-thirds of his 19-year sentence behind bars.
Once released, he will still be subject to a further two years on parole or licence conditions.
The court found Whelan guilty earlier in the month of multiple serious offenses, including indecent assault, gross indecency with a child, and rape.
These crimes were committed over a span of several years, from the mid-1990s through the 2000s, targeting two girls both under the age of 11 at the time the abuse began.
One of the victims, a younger girl, bravely shared her experiences in court, revealing how Whelan had subjected her to sexual abuse after manipulating her in a setting he referred to as his "man cave." She expressed feelings of powerlessness, stating, "I have carried around the weight of the world on my shoulders for most of my life." She further explained that Whelan had profoundly stolen her childhood and robbed her of the person she might have become.
During the proceedings, Whelan’s barrister, Clare Evans, sought to present a more sympathetic picture of her client, emphasizing that he had been a hardworking family man who had supported his loved ones.
Despite this defense, the evidence presented at trial painted a disturbing picture of Whelan’s conduct.
Jurors learned how Whelan turned his abuse into perverted "games," including instructing a seven-year-old girl to play hide and seek with his genitals, which he concealed with a blanket.
The abuse occurred over an extended period, with Whelan allegedly using various tactics to groom his victims.
The older girl testified that Whelan had occasionally babysat her when her mother was at work and that she had been cared for at his family home as well.
She recounted how Whelan would arrive at her home with what he called "special films"—pornographic material that he made her watch while she sat on his lap.
She was subjected to sexual molestation, including inappropriate touching, and was coerced into touching him as well.
The abuse continued at Whelan’s residence, often during sessions of playing video games in his personal "man cave," although he never exposed himself in her presence at those times.
Prosecutor David Scutt outlined the grooming process to the jury, emphasizing that Whelan told the younger girls that their secret was a special game, which he used to manipulate and control them.
The older girl recounted how she eventually refused to participate in these sinister "games," especially after her mother changed work shifts and she no longer needed to be babysat.
Despite this, she observed Whelan taking an interest in other young girls, often calling them upstairs to watch television in his bedroom, sometimes while wearing a towel.
The youngest victim, who was around seven when her abuse began, detailed how Whelan introduced her to explicit content using cards and online websites.
She explained that he groomed her, encouraging her to look at videos and images and instructing her on what to do.
She claimed she was coerced into performing sexual acts on him, including oral sex, and she alleged that Whelan raped her on at least one occasion.
She further described how Whelan tried to justify his actions by telling her he wanted to make her happy, similar to the women in the videos she was shown.
During childhood, one of the victims also reported experiencing urinary problems, which the judge suggested could have been linked to a sexually transmitted infection caused by the abuse.
The criminal activity was reported to the police in early 2019, with the younger girl’s accounts coming to light after she confided in her parents half a year earlier that she had been raped by Whelan.
Her brother played a significant role in encouraging her to come forward.
The older girl also eventually disclosed her experiences, influenced by her mother’s support.
When police interviewed Whelan last year, he denied the allegations of sexual assault against the girls.
He also claimed that the pornographic cards found belonged to his late father, maintaining his innocence.
In sentencing, Judge Taylor expressed deep condemnation of Whelan’s actions.
He pointed out that Whelan had forced his victims to live with a terrible secret for many years, fully aware that disclosure could lead to devastating consequences.
The judge acknowledged the tremendous courage it took for the victims to come forward and highlighted that, thanks to their bravery, they are now beginning to regain control of their lives.
Whelan, originally from Stamford Close, Toothill, appeared in court via video link from Bristol prison, and throughout the proceedings, he was seen shaking his head as the evidence was summarized, signifying his disapproval or denial.
