LEE JOHNSTON SENTENCED IN GLASGOW FOR SEX CRIMES IN KIRKCALDY AND GLENROTHES

Lee Johnston, aged 33, has been convicted of a series of heinous sexual offenses involving minors, leading to a severe and lifelong sentence. The crimes, which spanned over eight years, included the production, distribution, and possession of obscene images and videos of children, as well as the sexual assault and rape of young victims. Johnston’s criminal activities were primarily carried out at addresses in Kirkcaldy and Glenrothes, locations well known in Fife, Scotland.

Following his arrest and subsequent court proceedings, Johnston was brought before the High Court in Glasgow. Despite being granted bail at one point, he failed to adhere to the strict conditions imposed upon his release, notably the ban on having unsupervised contact with minors. This breach of bail conditions was a significant factor in the court’s decision to impose a more stringent sentence.

During the sentencing hearing, Judge Alistair Watson delivered a stern and detailed judgment. He stated that Johnston was convicted on 24 March this year by a jury at Glasgow High Court on a total of 13 charges. These charges covered a period of eight years and involved five different young children. The judge emphasized the heinous nature of Johnston’s crimes, which included manipulating the trust of parents to gain access to their children before abusing that trust in the most depraved ways.

Judge Watson described the crimes as ranging from the creation and sharing of indecent photographs of children to the physical sexual abuse and rape of young victims. He also highlighted Johnston’s failure to appear at the High Court to face justice and his breach of bail conditions, which led to his remand in custody. The judge pointed out that Johnston’s persistent pattern of abuse often involved degrading conduct, causing significant and long-lasting psychological harm to his victims.

The court noted Johnston’s apparent deviant infatuation with children and his blatant willingness to deprave and corrupt. Throughout the proceedings, Johnston maintained a stance of complete denial, showing no remorse, empathy, or insight into the gravity of his actions. This lack of remorse and the nature of his crimes led the court to consider the risk he poses to the public, especially children.

In light of the evidence, including risk assessment reports from psychologists, the court found Johnston to present a high to very high risk of reoffending sexually. The reports underscored the ongoing danger he poses, particularly to children, due to the continuous and serious nature of his offending, his lack of protective factors, and his failure to take responsibility.

Considering all these factors, Judge Watson determined that Johnston met the criteria for a lifelong restriction order under section 210E of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995. This order effectively imposes an indeterminate imprisonment, meaning Johnston will remain in custody indefinitely unless the Parole Board deems it safe to release him.

Regarding the punishment part of his sentence, the judge fixed it at five years, reflecting the time Johnston must serve in prison before being eligible to apply for parole. This period was adjusted to account for approximately one year Johnston had already spent in custody from late November 2019, prior to his release on bail. The starting date for this period is set as 1 March 2022, when Johnston was remanded again in custody.

It is crucial to understand that this punishment part does not equate to a fixed prison sentence of five years. Instead, it is the minimum period Johnston must serve before he can seek parole. The ultimate decision to release him will rest with the Parole Board, which will assess whether he no longer poses a threat to the public.

Furthermore, as a consequence of his conviction on sexual offenses, Johnston is now subject to the notification requirements under the Sexual Offences Act 2003. These obligations will remain in place indefinitely, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his activities to protect the community from potential harm.