JOHN GILBERT FROM HEIGHTON AND PRAZE-AN-BEUBLE SENTENCED FOR DECADES-OLD CHILD ABUSE AND CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CASES

In a long-awaited development in the fight against child abuse, John Gilbert, a man with ties to the villages of Heighton and Praze-an-Beeble, has finally faced justice for crimes committed over fifty years ago. The 84-year-old was convicted of abusing two young girls during the 1960s and 1970s, crimes that had remained hidden for decades until recent revelations and investigations.

Gilbert-Heighton’s victims, both under the age of ten at the time, endured years of silence and emotional turmoil, burdened by feelings of shock, shame, and confusion. Their suffering persisted until Gilbert-Heighton’s arrest and subsequent conviction for possessing indecent images of children in 2017, which prompted the victims to come forward and seek justice.

During the recent trial at Truro Crown Court, the jury was presented with harrowing evidence of Gilbert-Heighton’s misconduct. It was revealed that he had touched one girl between her legs and the other on her private parts, acts that took place in the 1960s and 1970s. The court heard how both victims had carried the trauma for decades, with one of them recounting that Gilbert-Heighton’s disturbing remarks about the images she saw stuck with her for fifty years. He had told her that her mother would be upset if she told anyone and that she would be sent away, further silencing her and compounding her distress.

In addition to the historical abuse, Gilbert-Heighton’s criminal record includes a 2017 conviction for possessing over 700 indecent images of children. During police interviews, he shockingly stated that he was not disgusted by the images because “the children were clearly enjoying it,” a comment that underscored his disturbing attitude towards the material. The images ranged from children as young as seven to twelve years old, with some being of the most serious category, depicting young children being raped.

At sentencing, Judge Simon Carr addressed the court and the victims, emphasizing the lasting impact of Gilbert-Heighton’s actions. He noted that the primary emotions experienced by the victims, both as children and adults, were confusion and distress. The judge highlighted how one victim had been haunted by Gilbert-Heighton’s remarks for half a century, and how the victims’ decision to come forward was driven by a desire to protect others from similar harm.

In a separate incident in January 2017, Gilbert-Heighton, then an artist residing in Trethannas Gardens, Praze, was found with inappropriate images of children. He pleaded guilty to four counts of possessing indecent images, which included videos and photographs of children aged between seven and twelve. The police discovered over 500 images, some of which were of the most serious category, and additional images that had been deleted but recovered through forensic analysis. Gilbert-Heighton initially denied any sexual interest in children, claiming the images were for his artwork, but forensic evidence and his internet searches contradicted this assertion.

During police questioning, Gilbert-Heighton made the shocking statement that he was not disgusted by the images because “the children were clearly enjoying it,” revealing his disturbing mindset. The court, presided over by Recorder Ignatius Hughes QC, sentenced him to a 12-month prison term, suspended for two years. The judge also imposed a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and mandated that Gilbert-Heighton attend specialized rehabilitation sessions for offenders of his kind. The sentence serves as a reminder of the serious consequences of such heinous crimes and the importance of protecting vulnerable children from exploitation and abuse.