A PAEDOPHILE from Coventry who subjected a young girl to an appalling seven-year campaign of sexual abuse in the 1960s has finally been jailed.
John Erskine, 75, will likely end his days in prison after he was sentenced to 20 years in prison after being found guilty at Birmingham Crown Court of seven counts of raping a female child under the age of 13.
The survivor was sexually abused by Erskine in the 1960s when she was a little girl, with violence used against her when she didn’t comply.
A Warwickshire Police spokesperson said she was ‘failed by the justice system’ when she unsuccessfully tried to report the abuse as an adult in the 1980s.
At that time, Erskine was questioned for several hours, but was let go on the basis the offences had not happened recently enough to prosecute, as the law was different at the time.
It was only when the victim heard of another case impacting someone she knew that she decided to try again.
When interviewed by police, Erskine switched between minimising what he did, lying about his offending or making excuses.
The jury in the trial saw through Erskine’s lies and convicted him of all seven counts.
Det Sgt Dugmore, who led the investigation, said: “I want to commend the victim for her courage in coming forward. She demonstrated unwavering strength throughout.
“The justice system failed her in the 1980s and we know it will have taken yet more bravery to make that report again, all these years later.
“Nothing will take away the pain that Erskine caused. But she is an extraordinary woman and I hope this sentence goes some way to bringing her the peace she deserves.
“She has asked me to express her hope that others who have survived abuse see this story and feel able to come forward and let us help them to get justice.”
Visit https://tinyurl.com/3s6yjkhk for information about reporting sex offences to police or support organisations, and support available to survivors of rape and sexual assault.
