April 26, 2017 3.40 pm This story is over 82 months old

Former Sleaford soldier jailed for raping child after victim taped his confession

A former soldier from Sleaford has been jailed for nine years for raping and abusing a child. John Johnstone, 50, and of Alexandra Road, was convicted of the crimes when the victim secretly taped him apologising to her 25 years after the offences ended. The rape and sexual abuse committed by Johnstone took place when…

A former soldier from Sleaford has been jailed for nine years for raping and abusing a child.

John Johnstone, 50, and of Alexandra Road, was convicted of the crimes when the victim secretly taped him apologising to her 25 years after the offences ended.

The rape and sexual abuse committed by Johnstone took place when the girl was aged between two and 11 in Polmont and Bo’ness in Stirlingshire between June 1980 and March 1990.

His abuse only came to light after the victim, now an adult, had gone to a house he was visiting in 2015 and recorded his confession with her mobile phone.

Johnstone had denied the charges during his trial at Edinburgh High Court in March but was found guilty by the jury.

He has been placed on the sex offenders’ register.

Detective Inspector Hugh Louden of Forth Valley’s Public Protection Unit said: “Johnstone is a depraved individual who subjected a child to a prolonged period of abuse and I want to commend the woman for coming forward.

“Dedicated teams of detectives are committed to bringing perpetrators of sexual crimes before the courts, regardless of when the offences took place.

“Although nothing can undo Johnstone’s heinous actions, I hope his conviction and this sentence gives the woman some sense of justice.”