JOHN HAMILTON SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX ABUSE IN THORNABY AND LINGDALE

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the communities of Thornaby and Lingdale, John Hamilton, a man with a troubling history of child sexual abuse, has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term for his heinous crimes. Hamilton, who was released from prison just last month after serving time, has connections to North Yorkshire and Cambridgeshire, but his recent offenses took place in the Teesside area, specifically involving victims from Thornaby and Lingdale.

His criminal activities span several decades, with the most recent convictions relating to abuse that occurred in the 1980s and 1990s. The court heard that Hamilton, aged 49 and formerly residing on Stirling Way in Thornaby and more recently on Meadow Dale Court in Lingdale, systematically groomed and sexually assaulted two young girls. His actions have left deep scars on the victims, who are now women in their twenties and thirties.

The first victim, a girl who was under 10 at the time, was subjected to a single assault in the 1980s. She recounted how she froze and resisted his advances, but Hamilton stopped when he was disturbed. Now in her thirties, she described how the incident caused her confusion, leading to self-harming behaviors, withdrawal, and severe depression. Her testimony highlighted the lasting impact of Hamilton’s abuse on her mental health and personal development.

The second victim, a girl who was in her early teens during the 1990s, revealed that Hamilton’s abuse escalated over time. He repeatedly told her, “Don’t tell anybody. We could get into a lot of trouble,” attempting to silence her. When she threatened to disclose the abuse, he responded with violence, slapping her and walking away. The court heard that Hamilton paid her after forcing her to perform sexual acts, which eventually led her to offer him such acts in exchange for money. Her statement emphasized how Hamilton’s actions destroyed her childhood, leaving her with long-lasting emotional scars, diminished confidence, and damaged relationships.

Hamilton’s employment history was also scrutinized during the trial. He worked as an IT expert at Thornaby Community School, now known as Thornaby Academy, for 13 years until he was suspended in May 2010. The suspension followed the school’s awareness of allegations against him, although none of these related to students at the school. The court was told that Hamilton has not returned to work in any educational setting since that time.

Judge Richard Mansell QC delivered a stern sentence, condemning Hamilton’s systematic abuse. He stated, “This was systematic regular abuse carried out against this girl. It all having come to light, you must pay a very severe penalty for what you did. You’re not entirely aware, I don’t believe, of just how serious these matters were, or the effect upon the victims. You also seem to think in some way these two girls invited this behaviour upon themselves, which is typical of people like you who abuse children.”

As a result, Hamilton was sentenced to nine-and-a-half years in prison for his crimes against the first girl, with an additional 18 months for the offense involving the second girl. Furthermore, he was banned from working with children and will be placed on the sex offenders’ register for life. The court also imposed a sexual offences prevention order, restricting his contact with minors under 18 and regulating his use of the internet and digital images.

A spokesperson for Stockton Council clarified that Hamilton’s employment at Thornaby Community School was terminated in May 2010 following police allegations, none of which involved current students. The council confirmed that Hamilton has not returned to work at any school within Stockton Borough since then, and he remains under strict supervision due to the severity of his offenses.