JOHN SPEER FROM BOGNOR REGIS SENTENCED FOR HISTORIC CHILD ABUSE AND INDECENT IMAGES

In a case that has spanned several decades, a man from Bognor Regis, identified as John Speer, has been convicted of serious sexual offenses involving a young boy over 30 years ago. The conviction follows a detailed investigation by Sussex Police, which revealed disturbing details about the offender's actions and their lasting impact on the victim.

According to police reports, Speer, aged 58 at the time of sentencing, was found guilty of abusing a nine-year-old boy during his teenage years. The court also sentenced him for possessing indecent images of children, highlighting a pattern of disturbing behavior. The court established that Speer had engaged in multiple instances of indecent assault on the young victim, paying him money to keep silent about the abuse. These payments and assaults have had profound effects on the victim, including a gambling addiction that the victim later developed, as detailed in a victim impact statement read during the sentencing.

The police statement clarified that the investigation was initiated after the victim approached authorities in April 2016, expressing concerns about Speer’s access to children. The victim, who had initially hesitated due to fears of not being believed, eventually disclosed that Speer had assaulted him numerous times and had paid him for his silence. The victim also revealed that the payments from Speer contributed to his later gambling addiction, which caused additional distress and hardship for his family.

Detective Sergeant David Midgley emphasized the importance of perseverance in such cases, stating, “This case shows that we will investigate such allegations tirelessly, offenders will get prosecuted and the conviction shows that he was believed.” He also noted that the victim was around nine years old when they first met, and over several years, Speer repeatedly assaulted him, often paying him to keep quiet. The investigation included interviews with family members and gathering evidence from other agencies, which supported the victim’s account.

Speer was located and interviewed in October 2016, during which he denied the allegations. Despite his denials, authorities pursued multiple lines of inquiry, leading to charges being brought against him. The case was presented to the Crown Prosecution Service, which authorized the prosecution in January 2018. Speer was formally charged with six counts related to the victim. He initially pleaded not guilty during a court hearing in March 2018, and a three-day trial commenced on July 30 at Portsmouth Crown Court.

During the trial, the victim’s police interview was played in court, and testimony from two other witnesses was heard. The jury deliberated and returned a verdict of guilty on five counts, with one count resulting in a majority verdict of not guilty. Speer appeared in court for sentencing on August 31, 2018, where the victim’s impact statement was read aloud. The court also noted that Speer had earlier pleaded not guilty to four additional charges involving indecent photographs and possession of prohibited images, but he later changed his plea to guilty on October 22.

The police confirmed that the images were found on devices seized during his arrest, but they were not connected to the indecent assault case. The court ordered the destruction of these devices. Speer was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register and will be subject to close supervision under a Sexual Harm Prevention Order once released from prison. The authorities emphasized that justice would catch up with offenders regardless of the passage of time, and that Speer’s case demonstrates the commitment to dealing robustly with such crimes.

In light of the guilty pleas and the conclusion of the trial, the police have decided to publicly report the case, which was initially scheduled for trial on November 19 but was resolved earlier due to the pleas. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of reporting historic abuse and the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to bring offenders to justice, no matter how long ago the crimes occurred.