JOHN MERRITT SENTENCED IN LIVERPOOL FOR HISTORIC CHILD SEXUAL OFFENCES
A man found guilty of abusing two boys decades ago broke down in court today as he was sentenced.John Merritt, 60, of Leathers Lane, Halewood, who denied the allegations, was convicted of sexual crimes committed when he was a teenager.
During the trial, it was revealed that Merritt, then aged 14 or 15 and using the name Walter Merritt, assaulted victims in Belle Vale and Netherley in the 1970s.
Prosecutor Stephen McNally described how Merritt gained the boys' trust.
Merritt first offered Boy A chocolate, then invited him into his house where he raped him both in a bathroom and in a nearby field.
He also assaulted Boy B, who had entered Merritt's home after Merritt's mother had kindly invited him for tea and cake.
Boy B explained that the abuse "destroyed" his life and led him to steal to buy drugs in an attempt to forget the trauma.
The court heard the abuse took place during the 1970s, and the crimes only came to light when Boy A made a formal report to police in 2016.
Boy A had previously confided in his sister about the abuse 30 years earlier and mentioned it in a police letter in 2014.
When police interviewed Boy A, he expressed a belief that others might have been victimised, which led officers to trace and interview Boy B in 2018.
Both victims provided similar accounts, though Boy B was not told who supplied his name.
Boy A recounted how Merritt passed him on the street, offered him chocolate, and then assaulted him in his home and another location.
Boy B said he went to Merritt’s residence because Merritt’s mother was kind and provided him with food during difficult family times.
She offered tea, biscuits, and cake, which Boy B said he didn’t usually get at home.
Merritt followed Boy B into the bathroom, locked the door, and committed the assaults twice there.
Merritt was convicted of three counts of a sexual offence that would now be classified as rape after a March trial.
In a victim statement read at the sentencing, Boy A said the abuse "destroyed his life" and that he turned to drugs to numb the memories, describing how it affected his relationships.
The court also heard earlier convictions of Merritt: a 1976 conviction for wounding after a girl was injured when he threw a bike cog at her.
His family later moved to Speke.
In 1980, he was convicted of possessing a weapon—a stick with a chain—as part of a Teddy Boy outfit.
His most recent prior conviction was for a racially aggravated public order offence in 2015.
Merritt’s character references included testimonies from his wife, adult son, and two daughters.
Defence lawyer Louise McCloskey told the court that Merritt, who acknowledged the verdict but maintained innocence, was “only a child” at the time and had educational, learning, and physical difficulties, including a condition caused by his mother’s thalidomide use during pregnancy.
Character references said Merritt was assessed as a low risk of re-offending and had not committed any crimes since.
Ms McCloskey emphasised Merritt’s current positive attributes, stating, “The man before the court, 60 years of age, is a very different one from the teenager that committed these offences,” and noted the Probation Service's recommendation for a community-based sentence to support his rehabilitation.
She highlighted that Merritt’s family, who regard him highly and rely on him for support, have endured significant abuse and intimidation since the case was made public, but they are “guilty of nothing.” Addressing Merritt’s history, Recorder Ian Harris noted that Merritt had groomed and isolated the boys through significant planning, with lifelong impacts on both victims.
Boy B, who shouted during the assaults, was left with lasting psychological scars, and he explained he used drugs to block out what Merritt had done to him.
The judge pointed out Merritt’s learning difficulties and physical problems, including short arms caused by his mother’s thalidomide treatment, which led to societal discrimination against his family.
While an optimistic report suggested Merritt could avoid jail, the judge determined that if he had been an adult at the time, he would have faced over 16 years behind bars.
Ultimately, Merritt was sentenced to eight years in prison, a sentence that was reduced considering his age and circumstances.
He collapsed in the dock as the sentence was announced, hitting a wooden rail.
After assistance, he claimed it was due to fainting and mentioned his back.
He will serve at least six years before being eligible for release on license and will be required to register as a sex offender for life.
As Merritt was led away, he waved to his crying wife and adult son.
Detective Constable Julia Jennings commented afterward, "The actions of Merritt have clearly had a long-lasting and devastating impact on his victims, who have been forced to relive their ordeals through his trial.
I would like to pay tribute to their courage and strength in coming forward to speak up against Merritt, and I hope that today’s sentencing finally provides the closure they have waited for." She encouraged other victims of sexual abuse to come forward, emphasizing that the police have specially trained officers ready to support them in their investigations.
