John Raisen

A man from Sleaford, Lincolnshire, has been jailed for grooming and sexually abusing a teenage girl more than 45 years ago. John Raisen, now 76, first encountered his victim in Melton Mowbray when she was approximately 13 years old. The abuse began in 1979 and continued over a period of around 15 to 18 months.

Raisen initially took an interest in the girl's relationships with boys, which soon escalated into a sexual interest despite his awareness of her young age. His behaviour started with inappropriate touching and progressed to encouraging her to engage in sexual activity. The victim later described how Raisen made her feel special at the time, leading her not to realise the wrongdoing, but she eventually recognised that he had 'stolen part of her childhood'.

The case came to light when the victim contacted Leicestershire Police in 2021 to report the historical abuse. During a police interview, Raisen declined to answer any questions. Following a trial at Leicester Crown Court, he was found guilty on Friday, 19 September 2025, of 12 counts of indecent assault and four counts of indecency with a child.

On Thursday, 2 October 2025, Raisen, of North Parade in Sleaford, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment. He has been placed on the sex offenders' register indefinitely and is subject to a lifetime restraining order prohibiting contact with the victim. The sentencing provides closure for the victim, who had lived with the trauma for over four decades.

Detective Constable Aisling McPhillips, the investigating officer from Leicestershire Police, commented: 'What happened to the victim in this case is something she has had to live with for more than 45 years. Today her abuser is finally facing the consequence of his crimes and I hope this now provides a degree of closure and allows her to move on from her past.' She added: 'This outcome should also serve as a reminder to anyone who has also been sexually abused that it’s never too late to speak out and that we will continue our work to bring offenders to justice.'

The case was reported by Lincolnshire Live on 3 October 2025, highlighting the ongoing efforts to address non-recent sexual abuse.