JOHN SPRINGALL, THE DANGEROUS PLYMOUTH PAEDOPHILE, SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENSES AND CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

In February 2009, a harrowing case unfolded in Exeter Crown Court involving John Springall, a man with a dark history of abusing young girls and possessing explicit images of children. The proceedings revealed the extent of his crimes, which spanned decades and left lasting scars on his victims.

Springall, aged 78 at the time, was convicted of sexually assaulting two young girls during the late 1960s and early 1970s. The court heard that these assaults occurred when the victims were between four and eleven years old. The woman, whose identity remains protected for legal reasons, bravely came forward to speak about her ordeal. She emphasized the profound impact Springall’s actions had on her life, stating, “John Springall took away our childhood, and we have continued to suffer throughout our lives from what he did.”

Following the sentencing, she called on other potential victims to step forward, hoping to uncover the full scope of Springall’s offending. The victims believe that there may be additional women who were abused as young girls, and there are suspicions that Springall traveled abroad as a ‘sex tourist,’ although he has never faced charges related to any overseas offenses.

Springall’s criminal record also includes a conviction for possessing thousands of images depicting child abuse. He was sentenced to an additional year in prison for this offense, which involved the possession of highly disturbing material, including one extreme image purchased during a trip to an Amsterdam sex shop many years prior. The police investigation uncovered a disturbing collection of 2,755 images stored on his computer and discs, categorized from least to most severe. Among these, 2,249 images fell into the least serious category, with others in categories ranging up to the most heinous, involving torture and bestiality.

During the police search of his residence last year, Springall, who was born in Gosport in 1931 and had previously lived in a council property at Anthony Gardens, Pennycross, appeared attentive but showed no visible emotion. He wore a grey jacket and a white, open-necked shirt as prosecutor Robert Linford detailed the findings. The images found on his devices depicted children being degraded, raped, and subjected to indecent assaults, with some involving sadistic abuse and torture.

Springall admitted to possessing these images but claimed he had “no real sexual interest in children.” However, following the publicity surrounding his case, four women came forward alleging that he had sexually abused them when they were young girls. His trial, which lasted five days in December, resulted in convictions for assaulting two of these girls, with the victims aged between four and eleven at the time. He was acquitted of charges related to two other girls.

Defense lawyer Ali Rafati argued that the offenses occurred over 35 years ago and that Springall, given his age, would face a difficult time in prison. He acknowledged that the category 5 images were “vile” and the others “distasteful and illegal,” but pointed out that many cases involve even more severe images. The only aggravating factor, he said, was Springall’s systematic collection and storage of the material, indicating a “high level of personal interest.”

Judge Philip Wassall sentenced Springall to a total of seven years in prison for the sexual assaults, with an additional year for possessing indecent images, which was to run concurrently. The judge also imposed a highly restrictive Sexual Offences Prevention Order, described as “Draconian,” to prevent any further offenses.

Outside the court, a police spokesperson commended the victims for their courage in coming forward. The spokesperson emphasized the lengthy investigation, supported by Victim Support and Twelves Company, which provides assistance to abuse victims. The officer reaffirmed the police’s commitment to thoroughly investigating all allegations of abuse and reassured victims that they would be treated with sensitivity and offered full support. The police hope that the bravery demonstrated by these victims will encourage others to report abuse, ensuring that offenders like Springall are held accountable for their actions.