2006: SERIAL RAPIST JOHN LORD SENTENCED TO LIFE IN BOLTON
2006: A man known for committing multiple violent rapes spanning nearly two decades has been sentenced to life in prison after attempting to abduct a woman while on parole.John Lord, aged 53, was seen driving through Bolton in search of a victim before targeting a 24-year-old student walking alone on March 19 of the previous year.
Lord, who was previously convicted of numerous sexual assaults, approached the woman in Chorley Street at approximately 2am, instructing her to get into his car while brandishing a steering lock he pretended was a firearm.
The student, returning home from a night out in Manchester, managed to break free and ran toward a crowd, crouching out of fear she would be shot, and called for help.
During sentencing at Bolton Crown Court, Judge Gillian Ruaux described Lord as a significant threat to women, emphasizing that he would remain imprisoned as long as he posed a risk to the public.
"You were actively patrolling Bolton’s streets seeking a victim," the judge said.
"It is clear that your intent was to kidnap her for sexual assault, with a high probability of violence involved.
Your instability and dangerousness to women are evident, and I see no reason to believe the risk will decrease after a fixed sentence." It was revealed that the student had arrived in Bolton early that morning after a night out and opted to walk home when no taxis were available.
As she walked along Chorley Street, Lord, from Horwich, approached her in a silver VW Passat, demanding she enter his vehicle while pointing what she believed to be a gun—actually a steering lock—to her.
She resisted and fled towards other pedestrians, crouching for safety out of fear.
Lord sped away but was identified by the victim and a witness, Karen Edwards, who remembered his car's registration.
He was subsequently arrested and convicted after a trial last year, despite denying kidnapping charges.
Deputy Judge Ruaux added that the victim’s fear made it apparent she believed her life was in danger and that her state of distress prevented her from speaking.
Lord's criminal history includes a life sentence handed down in 1987 for three rapes and a sexual assault against a young paper girl in Eccles between 1985 and 1987.
Each attack, committed while he was in the Farnworth area, involved him approaching women late at night, threatening them with a knife, and assaulting them.
In one incident, he violently punched a woman, causing broken bones.
In 1998, Lord admitted to five additional counts of rape and one sexual assault spanning from 1970 to 1984 across Breightmet, Eccles, and Swinton, though he was never prosecuted for those crimes.
While incarcerated, Lord completed a sexual offenders’ rehabilitation program and was released on parole in 2003.
He is now eligible for parole again in four years, subject to the assessment of his threat level, but will remain behind bars if deemed dangerous.
The judge noted similarities between this offence and his past crimes, highlighting that Lord’s actions often involved significant violence and stemmed from dangerous fantasies of non-consensual sex, which he has acted on multiple occasions.
