JOHN PRICE FROM BEDALE SENTENCED TO 8.5 YEARS FOR HYPNOTISING AND ABUSING BOYS IN YORKSHIRE

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Bedale and the wider North Yorkshire area, John Price, an 82-year-old retired Methodist minister, has been sentenced to eight and a half years in prison for a series of heinous crimes committed decades ago. The court heard that Price, who once served as a respected figure within the church, exploited his position of trust to target vulnerable boys, using hypnosis as a tool to facilitate his abuse.

Price’s crimes spanned the 1970s and 1980s, during which he indecently assaulted four boys aged between 11 and 17. The incidents took place at various locations, including his residence on Ash Tree Close in Bedale, as well as at the church premises in York and Pocklington, East Yorkshire. The court was told that Price would often find ways to isolate himself with the boys, employing techniques such as hypnosis, which he claimed was meant to help them relax or cope with stress and emotional pain.

During the trial, the jury was presented with disturbing evidence that, although none of the victims reported being hypnotised in the traditional sense, they experienced a freeze of shock and horror at the actions of the man they once trusted. Prosecutor Paul Newcombe explained that Price believed hypnosis would prevent the boys from remembering what had happened during the sessions, and he would often tell them that if they tried to mention the abuse, their minds would go blank and they would forget everything.

Price’s methods involved using a cloak or blanket during these sessions, and he would sometimes instruct the boys to hold a 50p coin, believing that their trance state would be confirmed when they dropped it. Despite his claims of innocence, the court heard that Price had a history of similar offences, having been convicted of a related offence in 1999, which resulted in him losing his clerical title of Reverend.

Two of the victims bravely delivered impact statements in court, revealing the profound and lasting effects of Price’s abuse. One victim shared that his faith had been shattered by the betrayal, describing the hypnosis as a “sick ploy” used by Price to manipulate him. The other victim expressed ongoing difficulties with trust, stating, “I still have deep suspicions of people’s motives around me.” These testimonies underscored the deep scars left by Price’s actions.

Judge Howard Crowson, presiding over the case, condemned Price’s actions as a gross betrayal of the trust placed in him by his victims and the community. He emphasized that the four separate accounts represented years of suffering, and the jury’s verdict reflected the severity of the crimes. Price, who is a widower and is cared for by his daughter, appeared in court via a live video link from Holme House Prison in Stockton. He walks with a white stick, and his age and health were noted during the proceedings.

In his sentencing, Judge Crowson made it clear that Price’s conduct was both cynical and calculated, targeting vulnerable young boys for his own gratification. The court’s decision marks a significant step in addressing historical abuse cases within the church community and highlights the importance of justice for victims of such predatory behavior.