KENDAL MAN JOHN WOODBURN SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES AND ANIMAL PORNOGRAPHY IN CUMBRIA

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Kendal, John Woodburn, a 63-year-old resident of Esthwaite Avenue, was found guilty of a series of heinous sexual offences involving minors and the possession of extreme pornography. The case came to light after a woman reported that Woodburn had committed sexual acts in her presence while she was only four years old, prompting an immediate police investigation.

During police interviews, Woodburn did not deny the allegations. In fact, he was described as being surprisingly frank, admitting to the offences and revealing a long history of depraved behaviour spanning over two decades. The court heard that Woodburn had set up hidden cameras in private areas of his home, including a family bathroom and a girl’s bedroom, with the intent of secretly watching children in intimate situations. These revelations painted a disturbing picture of his predatory activities.

At the time of his arrest, Woodburn was living in Kendal but had plans to relocate to Aberdeen, where he hoped to leverage his skills in electronics to secure employment within the oil industry. His criminal record includes 19 charges, encompassing gross indecency, making indecent images of children, and possessing extreme pornography involving animals. He pleaded guilty to all charges and was subsequently sentenced to 40 months in prison. Additionally, he was ordered to register as a sex offender and was prohibited from having any unsupervised contact with children.

Prosecutor Jonathan Dickinson detailed how Woodburn’s crimes were uncovered through the victim’s decision to seek counselling for relationship issues, which were rooted in the abuse she suffered in the late 1980s. The victim, who had recently met a new partner, realized that her previous failed relationships were linked to the trauma inflicted by Woodburn during her childhood. The court was told that Woodburn had shown her child pornography, predominantly images of young girls in school uniforms, while she was naked from the waist down, leading her to believe that such behaviour was normal for men.

Further investigations revealed that Woodburn had downloaded numerous child pornography images onto two computers at his residence. He also admitted to being attracted to the girl as she grew older into her teens and had used his technical expertise to hide a camera in her bedroom to watch her on his television. The police also found evidence of a similar camera installed in a family’s bathroom, and a disturbing 15-minute video captured under a picnic table, where he filmed a young girl’s skirt during a family meal.

Woodburn faced multiple charges, including two counts of gross indecency with the girl and one count of making an indecent movie of another girl. He also admitted to possessing and downloading child pornography, as well as extreme pornography involving animals, specifically a person engaged in sexual activity with a dog. Although he was not formally charged for the hidden cameras, the prosecution included this evidence in their case.

In his defense, Kim Whittlestone, representing Woodburn, argued that his client had recognized his problem, which he attributed to impotence caused by diabetes. She emphasized that Woodburn had been aware of his issues for many years and expressed remorse for his actions. She described him as being extremely distressed about the harm he had caused his victims and noted that he was now separated from his wife, who was present in the court gallery to support him.

Judge Peter Hughes QC delivered a stern sentence, condemning Woodburn’s actions as “depravity” and emphasizing the disturbing nature of his long-standing obsession with young girls and pornography. The judge highlighted that Woodburn’s offending spanned from 1987 onwards, revealing an obsessive and unhealthy interest in minors, which he described as “revolting.” The court’s verdict underscored the seriousness of the case and the need for ongoing monitoring of Woodburn’s status as a sex offender.