JOHN ESSAM FROM WITHAM SENTENCED FOR HORRIFIC SEXUAL ABUSE IN ESSEX

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Witham, Essex, former Scout leader John Essam has been sentenced to over a decade behind bars for a series of heinous sexual offenses committed against underage girls. The 41-year-old, who resided on Boydin Close in Witham, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges, including sexual assault and the possession of hundreds of indecent images of children, some of which were classified as highly serious on the scale used by authorities.

Residents of Boydin Close, a typically quiet cul-de-sac, expressed their fear and outrage following the revelations. Many reported feeling intimidated by Essam, especially after discovering his prior conviction for downloading child pornography. The community's concern was compounded by the fact that Essam had lived among them for eight years, raising questions about how he was allowed to remain in a family-oriented neighborhood so close to Maltings Academy, a secondary school.

Eyewitnesses and neighbors recounted their unease, with some refusing to let their children play outside. Linda Craven, a mother of two from Hatfield Road, recounted an encounter with Essam that exemplified the community’s distress. She said, “After the charges, he walked past us and said ‘hello girls’ to my children. I just flipped. I told him not to talk to my children and then asked straight out, ‘are you a paedophile?’” Craven added, “He got really upset and said: ‘I’ll have you done for slander.’”

Legal proceedings revealed the extent of Essam’s disturbing behavior. Court documents showed that he had exploited a teenage girl he knew through an ex-girlfriend, bombarding her with explicit letters during the 1990s, in which he insisted they should be best friends and demanded details about her sex life and her relationship with a young boy. The court heard that Essam later took her to various locations where he sexually assaulted her. The second victim, also a teenage girl, suffered a “horrendous” sexual assault at his hands.

Essam’s threats to silence his victims were also highlighted in court. He told them he would kill himself if they ever disclosed what had happened. Prosecutor Gregory Perrins detailed that Essam had been given a laptop to repair by a friend, which he then used to download 723 indecent images of children, ranging from levels two to four on the severity scale, with level five being the most serious.

Judge David Turner QC described Essam as having an abnormal attraction to young girls, stating, “You have significant paedophile leanings.” The judge also referenced Essam’s previous breach of a sexual prevention order in 2008, which resulted in a suspended jail sentence, noting that Essam had committed this breach twice. The judge emphasized that Essam’s motivation was rooted in sexual gratification and exploitation, which led to the manipulation and deep psychological harm of his victims. “You thoroughly corrupted and deeply affected them. They were subtly and deliberately manipulated,” he said.

Community members, especially those living on Boydin Close, expressed their anger and frustration at the authorities for allowing Essam to remain in their neighborhood after his earlier conviction. Brian Ellis, a father of four, voiced his outrage: “I’m absolutely furious that he was allowed to stay in a family area, close to Maltings Academy, given how sick he was. Our kids were kept indoors all through the summer holidays, unless we sat and watched them from the front gate. As far as I’m concerned, ten years is not enough. He should have received a longer sentence.”

In mitigation, Essam’s lawyer, Sarah Vine, stated that her client had shown remorse for the harm caused. Meanwhile, the Scout Association’s Essex spokesperson, Andrew Thrope, confirmed that Essam would never be permitted to work within the Scout Movement again.

Ultimately, John Essam was sentenced to ten years and three months in prison. Due to legal restrictions, the identities of his victims cannot be disclosed publicly, but the community’s sense of justice has been partially restored by the lengthy sentence handed down in this deeply troubling case.