JOHN WHELAN FROM TOOTHILL FOUND GUILTY OF CHILD RAPE AND INDECENT ASSAULT IN SWINDON

In a harrowing case that has shocked the community of Toothill and the wider Swindon area, John Whelan, aged 64, has been convicted of multiple serious charges related to the sexual abuse of two young girls. The crimes, which spanned from the mid-1990s to the mid-2000s, involved grooming, manipulation, and exploitation of children under the age of 10, with the abuse taking place in various locations including Whelan’s home and during babysitting sessions.

Whelan’s actions came to light after the victims, now adults, bravely came forward to police in early 2019. The younger victim, who was around seven years old at the time, reported that Whelan had shown her pornographic material, including playing cards and websites, and had groomed her into performing sexual acts, including oral sex and, on one occasion, rape. She recounted that Whelan had told her he wanted to make her “happy like the ladies in the videos,” a chilling statement that underscored the manipulative nature of his abuse.

The older girl, who was also under 10 when the abuse began, described how Whelan had occasionally babysat her while her mother was at work. She revealed that he had taken her to his family home and had shown her pornography, which he made her watch while sitting on his lap. She explained that Whelan had molested her, touching her sexually and encouraging her to touch him in return. As she grew older, she refused to participate in these “games,” and her mother’s work schedule changes meant she no longer needed to be babysat by Whelan. Despite this, she noticed Whelan’s inappropriate interest in another young girl, with whom he would call upstairs to watch TV in his bedroom, sometimes while wearing only a towel.

The court heard that Whelan had turned his abuse into twisted “games,” including instructing one of the girls to play hide and seek with his private parts, covering his genitals with a blanket. These acts of grooming and sexual assault were carried out over several years, with Whelan’s behavior often disguised as innocent or playful. Jurors learned that Whelan’s abuse was not limited to isolated incidents but was part of a pattern of grooming and exploitation.

During the trial at Swindon Crown Court, the prosecution, led by David Scutt, detailed how Whelan’s actions had left lasting scars on the victims. The court was told that Whelan had arrived at the younger girl’s home with “special films,” which he made her watch while he sat close to her. The girl described being made to touch Whelan sexually and perform oral sex, with her also claiming that he raped her on one occasion. The evidence painted a disturbing picture of a man who used his position of trust to prey on vulnerable children.

Whelan’s defense argued that the prosecution had not proven his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. His lawyer, Clare Evans, emphasized that Whelan had no prior convictions and was considered a family man. She pointed out that no suspicions had been raised about his behavior at the time, and that he had been working in the car industry during the period of the abuse. Whelan denied all allegations, claiming that the pornography found in his possession belonged to his late father and was not connected to any misconduct.

After more than eight hours of deliberation, the jury returned majority verdicts of guilty on nine charges, including one count of rape, indecency with a child, and indecent assault. Judge Jason Taylor QC, who remanded Whelan into custody, stated, “You have been rightly convicted in my view by the jury. It is inevitable you will receive a lengthy and significant custodial sentence. Your two victims deserve closure; that starts today. You can go down.”

Whelan is scheduled to be sentenced on December 21. The case has brought to light the disturbing reality of grooming and sexual abuse within seemingly ordinary community settings, prompting calls for increased vigilance and protective measures for children in the Toothill and Swindon areas.