John Johnstone

A former soldier, John Johnstone, has been jailed for nine years after being convicted of the rape and abuse of a child that occurred between 1980 and 1990 in Polmont and Bo'ness, Scotland. The case, which came to light decades later through covert recordings made by the victim, highlights a profound breach of trust and the long-lasting impact of childhood sexual abuse.

The offences took place between June 1980 and March 1990, when Johnstone abused the victim, who was a child at the time. Johnstone, now 50 and residing in Sleaford, Lincolnshire, denied the charges during his trial at the High Court in Edinburgh in March 2017. However, compelling evidence emerged from recordings the victim secretly made during a visit to Johnstone's house in 2015. Using her phone hidden in her back pocket, she captured conversations where Johnstone apologised for his actions, admitting to sexual intercourse with her on numerous occasions.

In one recording played to the jury, Johnstone stated: 'I was so wrong and I know I was wrong. That's why I left.' During a second conversation, prompted by the victim to detail his actions, he confessed to the abuse. The victim later shared the full extent of the trauma with her family doctor, who encouraged her to report the matter to the authorities. This led to Johnstone's arrest and prosecution.

Under cross-examination by defence counsel Derick Nelson, Johnstone attempted to downplay his admissions, claiming he had only kissed the victim inappropriately twice when he was about 18 and stopped out of disgust. The jury rejected this defence, convicting him of the serious charges of rape and child abuse.

Judge Michael O'Grady QC, in passing sentence, described the crimes as exhibiting 'depravity, wickedness and dreadful breach of trust'. He emphasised the irreversible damage inflicted on the victim, stating: 'The depravity, wickedness and dreadful breach of trust which this charge represents are all too clear. So too is the damage you have done to a child and the woman she has become. You will understand that only a significant sentence of imprisonment can reflect the gravity of your crime.' Johnstone was also placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

The case was handled by Police Scotland, specifically the Tayside division, reflecting the locations of the offences in central Scotland. This conviction underscores the importance of victims coming forward, even after many years, to seek justice for historical sexual offences.