RICHARD JOHNSTON'S HORRIFIC ABUSE IN GLASGOW: A DECADE OF TERROR

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Glasgow, Richard Johnston, a 46-year-old man, has been sentenced to three years in prison after admitting to a prolonged history of sexual abuse against a young girl. The abuse spanned nearly a decade, beginning when the victim was just eight years old and continuing until she reached the age of 17.

Johnston’s crimes came to light after the victim, who had endured years of suffering in silence, finally reported the abuse to authorities in 2008. The court heard that the offences took place while Johnston was entrusted with babysitting her and her siblings, which provided him with repeated opportunities to commit these heinous acts. The abuse was not limited to one incident; it was a pattern of predatory behavior that persisted over nine years, causing immense trauma to the young girl.

During the court proceedings at Glasgow Sheriff Court, it was revealed that Johnston also engaged in inappropriate conduct with another young girl, aged 10, with whom he asked to be her boyfriend and even got into bed with her. These additional allegations further underscored the severity of his misconduct.

The victim recounted that Johnston would manipulate her by telling her that if her parents were not doing the same things to her, then they did not love her. Such manipulative and threatening language was used to maintain control and silence her about the abuse. Sheriff Norman Ritchie described the offences as