JOHN WILTSHIRE FROM WHITCHURCH SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL OFFENSES AGAINST YOUNG GIRL

In a shocking turn of events, John Wiltshire, a former youth club leader from Whitchurch, has been convicted and sentenced to prison for a series of serious sexual offenses involving a young girl. Wiltshire, who once dedicated his time to working with local youth, now faces the consequences of his actions in a court of law.

Wiltshire appeared before Winchester Crown Court on a recent Friday, where he pleaded guilty to multiple charges related to his misconduct. The court heard that he admitted to engaging in sexual activity with a minor, specifically a teenage girl, and also confessed to possessing and creating indecent images of children. The charges included five counts of sexual activity with a child, one count of taking indecent photographs of children, and four counts of making indecent images of children. The evidence presented indicated that Wiltshire had made more than 6,000 indecent images, which were discovered on various electronic devices including a computer, a laptop, and a USB memory stick.

At the sentencing, Judge Keith Cutler sentenced Wiltshire to five years in prison. Additionally, he was ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life, a measure that underscores the severity of his crimes. Wiltshire, aged 64 and residing on Evingar Road in Whitchurch, was visibly distressed during the proceedings, hanging his head and wiping away tears as the sentence was handed down.

The court also noted Wiltshire’s significant involvement in the local community prior to his arrest. He was a founding member of the Whitchurch Youth Project, established in September 2005 to support young people in the town. His contributions to youth work were recognized in 2008 when he received a community award from the then Mayor of Whitchurch, Councillor Steve Robbins. Wiltshire was also known for running the “Chill 2 This” youth club, which catered to children aged 10 to 14 and attracted between 60 and 100 members weekly.

Despite his previous reputation as a dedicated youth worker, Wiltshire resigned from his position as leader of the youth club on April 5 of this year, and a new leader has since been appointed to continue the work. The case has sent shockwaves through the Whitchurch community, highlighting the devastating impact of betrayal by someone trusted to care for young people. Wiltshire’s actions have not only led to his imprisonment but have also profoundly damaged the trust placed in community figures who are supposed to serve as role models and protectors.