JOHN WILKINS SCUNTHORPE CHILD SEX OFFENDER JAILED FOR FOUR YEARS NEAR YORK

In January 2013, John Wilkins, a man with a troubling history of sexual offenses, was sentenced to four years in prison after being convicted of abusing a young girl near York. Wilkins, who has been married four times and resides on Chancel Road in Scunthorpe, was found guilty of multiple charges related to his predatory behavior towards a minor.

Wilkins’s criminal conduct came to light after he developed a relationship with a teenage girl whom he met during a visit to Stamford Bridge. Within a matter of days, his initial gestures of affection escalated rapidly from innocent hugs and kisses to more invasive acts of groping. During this period, he also presented her with cards that referred to her as his “special princess” and expressed his love for her, further complicating the emotional manipulation involved in the case.

Despite maintaining his innocence up until the day of his trial, Wilkins ultimately pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual assault on a child and six counts of possessing a total of 20 indecent images of children. The court proceedings took place at Hull Crown Court, where the severity of his actions was thoroughly examined. It was revealed that Wilkins had a prior conviction for indecent assault on females, which resulted in a two-year jail sentence back in 1982.

Throughout the investigation, it was established that Wilkins had used different aliases on various dating websites, which he also employed during his visit to Stamford Bridge, where he committed the offenses. The Crown’s barrister, David Bradshaw, described the assault, stating, “She tried to fight him off, but he was too strong.” The victim, a young girl, confided in her father about her concerns regarding Wilkins, but she only decided to speak out after his relationship with another woman in the town ended.

As part of the court’s orders, Wilkins was prohibited from entering Stamford Bridge for a period of 12 months while legal proceedings were ongoing. The court also heard details about his personal life, including his current separation from his wife and the fact that he has a daughter he has not seen for 14 years. His defense barrister, Brett Wilson, explained that Wilkins claimed the incident was a result of his inability to control himself, citing issues with sexual activity, a troubled childhood marked by abuse from his mother, and substance abuse problems. Wilson added that Wilkins feels he must hit rock bottom before he can begin to recover.

The victim, in her statement, expressed resilience, stating she does not let the incident affect her and is determined to move forward with her life despite the trauma she endured. The judge, David Tremberg, sentenced Wilkins to four years in prison, emphasizing the high risk of re-offending and his lack of insight or remorse. The judge described Wilkins as an “un-reconstructed sex-offender” and highlighted aggravating factors such as the significant age difference and the repeated nature of his offenses. He also expressed concern that the girl might face future difficulties in forming relationships.

In addition to his prison sentence, Wilkins was ordered to register as a sex offender and was placed under an indefinite Sexual Offences Prevention Order. This order bans him from having contact with or living with any girl under the age of 16 without prior approval from social services or the court, aiming to prevent any future harm.