JOHN WOOD SHOCKS GLASGOW WITH BRUTAL RAPE AND ABUSE AFTER LEAVING LIVERPOOL
In April 2022, a harrowing case of sexual violence and abuse unfolded involving a man named John Wood, whose actions have left a trail of trauma across Glasgow and Liverpool.The disturbing events began when a woman, identified only as Kelly, who hails from Liverpool, encountered Wood, a 38-year-old care worker originally from the Cheshire area, during a conference.
At the time, Wood was residing on Dowanhill Street in Glasgow, and the two started communicating online, gradually building a relationship that would soon turn into a nightmare for Kelly.
Kelly recounted that she initially had little understanding of Wood’s true character.
She described feeling vulnerable and emotionally fragile after the end of a long-term relationship, which made her more susceptible to his manipulative charm.
Over the course of several weeks, they exchanged messages daily, speaking on the phone and sharing personal details.
Trusting his seemingly confident and intelligent demeanor, Kelly decided to visit him in Glasgow after nearly three months of online interaction.
However, her first face-to-face meeting was a stark contrast to their online conversations.
Kelly described Wood as slimy and pervy, noting that she found him physically unattractive and felt uncomfortable during their encounter.
Despite her clear refusal, Wood forcibly raped her during her visit.
Kelly expressed her confusion and shame, revealing that she initially believed rape could only occur if someone was physically dragged off the street.
She admitted to feeling that no one would believe her if she spoke out about the assault.
Strangely, Kelly continued her relationship with Wood for reasons she finds difficult to explain.
Over time, Wood left Glasgow and moved in with her at her home in Liverpool.
She described their relationship as abusive, controlling, and violent, with Wood exerting both physical and emotional dominance.
Kelly soon discovered she was pregnant, which she said made her feel even more trapped in the toxic environment.
The situation worsened when authorities from Merseyside Police and a social worker arrived at her home to disclose information under Clare’s Law.
This law allows police to inform partners about a person’s previous history of violent or abusive behavior.
Kelly revealed that they told her Wood had been arrested and questioned in Scotland years earlier on suspicion of raping a 15-year-old girl.
The case was ultimately dropped, with Wood denying the allegations and claiming the girl had lied.
Kelly described her ongoing ordeal, detailing how Wood’s abuse extended beyond physical violence.
He would scream, shout, and call her degrading names, often belittling her intelligence and controlling her social interactions.
He dictated what she could wear and restricted her from seeing friends.
Kelly also recounted that there were times she felt compelled to accept unwanted sexual advances, even when she did not want to engage in sex.
The abuse persisted after her child was born.
Kelly recounted that, just ten days postpartum, Wood raped her again.
She emphasized that she was still bleeding and unhealed from childbirth, making the assault particularly traumatic.
She was terrified and in pain, shouting for him to stop, but he continued, fully aware of the harm he was causing.
After the assault, he slept downstairs on the couch, indicating a level of awareness about the severity of his actions.
As her relationship with Wood deteriorated further, Kelly’s colleagues at work began to notice signs of distress.
Some colleagues even pulled her aside, urging her to ensure her safety amid the ongoing abuse.
The relationship finally ended when Kelly discovered Wood was using dating websites to meet other men for sex, despite still living in her house because he had nowhere else to go.
However, her ordeal was far from over.
One night, Wood entered her bedroom uninvited and attempted to initiate sexual activity.
Kelly described her response as forceful, telling him to leave and defending herself physically.
She stated that this incident was the most violent rape she endured, and she was certain at that moment that what was happening was a criminal act.
Kelly’s decision to report Wood to Merseyside Police led to his arrest and subsequent investigation.
Despite being under investigation for the rape, Wood appeared to live unbothered, even moving to Turkey for several months where he worked as a diving instructor.
Kelly was devastated to learn that, after nine months, the police decided not to press charges due to insufficient evidence.
She appealed twice but was unsuccessful.
Her hopes were reignited when a detective from Police Scotland contacted her, revealing that Wood had been charged with raping another woman, identified as Lisa, at his flat in Glasgow shortly before he met Kelly.
Lisa, who had not reported the incident earlier, learned of Wood’s arrest in England for a similar crime and decided to come forward.
The police investigation uncovered that Wood had twice raped Lisa, although she had not initially felt strong enough to report the assaults.
The evidence from these incidents was used in court, along with the charges related to Kelly’s case.
Wood denied all allegations, claiming that Kelly was attempting to frame him because she was angry about his infidelity.
Nevertheless, a jury at Glasgow’s High Court saw through his lies within an hour and convicted him of raping both women.
He was sentenced to six years in prison and ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register indefinitely, marking a significant victory for justice against a man whose actions caused profound suffering across multiple cities.
