JOHN PERKINS FROM NEW MILLS SENTENCED AFTER DECADES-LONG SEX ABUSE REVELATION

In a shocking turn of events that spanned over two decades, John Perkins, a resident of New Mills, was finally brought to justice for his past crimes involving the sexual abuse of a young boy. The incident was reignited when the victim, now an adult, unexpectedly recognized Perkins during a routine shopping trip in the town.

On that day, the victim was accompanied by his wife when he suddenly saw Perkins, who he identified as the man who had assaulted him during his childhood in the 1980s. Overcome with emotion and recalling the traumatic events of his youth, the victim confronted Perkins directly, shouting, “Do you remember me? Do you remember what you did to me?”

Perkins, visibly distressed and crying, cowered in a corner, pleading for mercy with words like “Don’t hurt me, I’m sorry.” In a moment of intense confrontation, the victim responded with anger and punched Perkins to the ground. Initially, police officers responded by arresting the victim for assault, but subsequent investigations revealed Perkins’s long history of sexual offenses, leading to his detention.

John Perkins, aged 57 and residing at Springbank, New Mills, faced the court to answer for his crimes. He pleaded guilty to charges of indecency with a child and indecent assault, which resulted in a sentence of four and a half years in prison. The proceedings took place at Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court, where prosecutor Tom Fitzpatrick outlined the details of Perkins’s criminal history and the recent incident.

Fitzpatrick explained that the victim had kept his abuse secret for many years due to feelings of shame and embarrassment. It was only through this chance encounter that he was able to recognize Perkins, which triggered a flood of suppressed memories. The court was informed that Perkins had previously abused the boy and had attempted to buy his silence with money. The victim recounted how he would run home crying after each attack, describing the experience as “breaking his heart.”

In a heartfelt victim impact statement, the man revealed that the abuse had profoundly affected his life, leading him to start drinking at the age of 12. The court also learned about Perkins’s extensive criminal record, which included convictions dating back to 1973 for two counts of indecency with a child and three counts of indecent assault on a male under 16. He had been sentenced to a 12-month probation order at that time. Further convictions included a 1987 conviction for common assault on a child, and in 2005, Perkins was cautioned for kissing a girl and for sexual activity with a male under 13.

Perkins’s defense attorney, Adam Watkins, argued that his client had only a limited understanding of the severity of his actions, suggesting a lack of full awareness of the wrongfulness of his conduct. Nonetheless, the court ordered Perkins to register as a sex offender for life and prohibited him from working with children in any capacity. The sentencing marked a significant moment in the pursuit of justice for victims of long-standing abuse, highlighting the importance of perseverance and the power of chance encounters in bringing perpetrators to account.