JOHN PYCOCK FROM BILLINGHAY AND FISKERTON SENTENCED IN LINCOLN FOR DECADES OF CHILD SEX ABUSE

In a case that has shocked the local communities of Billinghay and Fiskerton near Lincoln, John Pycock, a man with a long history of sexual offenses against minors, has been sentenced to a significant prison term following a series of heinous crimes spanning over several years.

In November 2020, the 79-year-old former scout leader appeared before Lincoln Crown Court to face serious allegations involving the sexual assault of a young girl. Pycock admitted to three charges related to sexual attacks on the girl, which took place between August 2007 and August 2012. The court heard that the victim was subjected to more than 20 separate incidents of sexual assault, beginning when she was just seven years old.

During the proceedings, prosecutor Dawn Pritchard detailed the extent of the abuse, revealing that the victim confided in a friend and later her mother about what had happened. This disclosure led to Pycock’s arrest in the summer of the previous year. Pycock, who was living on Winn Street in Lincoln at the time, did not deny the allegations and made full admissions during police interviews. He expressed remorse, stating that he had told himself to stop but found himself unable to do so, and that the abuse continued on numerous occasions.

Judge Simon King, presiding over the case, expressed his revulsion at Pycock’s actions and emphasized the devastating impact on the victim’s life. He stated, “There is no question in my mind that custody is the only option in your case. The sentence I pass reflects the revulsion and disgust that society will view behaviour of this sort.” Pycock was sentenced to six years in prison, with the court also ordering that he be placed on the sex offenders’ register for life and subject to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order.

In addition to the recent convictions, it was revealed that Pycock had a prior conviction from June 2014, when he was jailed for 51 months after admitting to five offenses involving sexual assaults on young boys. At that time, he was a scout leader in Billinghay, Lincolnshire, and had sexually abused three boys aged between eight and eleven during the late 1980s. Pycock would invite the boys to his home while his wife was working night shifts as a nurse, and committed the abuse during these visits.

The 2014 case came to light only after one of Pycock’s victims encountered him at a social event and subsequently reported the incident to the police. Prosecutor Stephen Kemp described the abuse as a “monstrous breach of trust,” and Judge Sean Morris condemned Pycock’s actions, stating, “You have pleaded guilty to a catalogue of offending against young boys. You have completely devastated lives.” Pycock’s previous sentence was four years and three months, and he was also ordered to register as a sex offender for life.

These cases highlight a disturbing pattern of predatory behavior by Pycock, whose actions have left lasting scars on his victims. The court’s sentences reflect the gravity of his crimes and the societal need to protect vulnerable children from such offenders. The communities of Billinghay and Fiskerton continue to grapple with the aftermath of these revelations, and the justice system’s response aims to serve as a stark warning against such heinous conduct.