JOHN SULLIVAN OF LLANGOLLEN JAILED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES COMMITTED DECADES AGO

In July 2014, John Sullivan, aged 64 and formerly a factory manager from Llangollen, was sentenced to five years in prison for sexual offences he committed almost 40 years earlier. The offences took place when Sullivan was between 18 and 23 years old, involving young boys aged six to eleven.

Prosecuting barrister Simon Mills explained in Mold Crown Court that Sullivan had a particular interest in motorcycles, which he used to lure children into his garage. During these encounters, he would show the youths his bikes and offer them money to perform sexual acts on him. He also engaged in a sexual act upon himself and, after taking a group of boys apple scrumping in a park, molested one of them.

Police knocked on Sullivan’s door earlier this year after a man in his 50s came forward, revealing to authorities the abuse Sullivan inflicted on him as a child. Despite living a seemingly respectable life since then — being married with three grown-up sons, doing charity work, and working at various jobs, eventually becoming a factory manager responsible for 200 staff — Sullivan's past was uncovered.

He admitted to police that he had previously faced a complaint of indecency with a 13-year-old boy when he was in his 20s. Police found archived material indicating that Sullivan had confessed to the NSPCC about his past misconduct, but he had refused to cooperate with a police interview and no legal action was taken at that time because the boy and his parents chose not to pursue a formal complaint.

Today, Sullivan was placed on the sex offender register for life, and an indefinite Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) was issued to restrict his activities. The sentencing was carried out under legislation applicable at the time, which did not carry the harsher penalties that current laws would impose for similar offences.

Judge Philip Hughes noted that the offences spanned over three to four years in the late 1960s and early 1970s, when Sullivan was in his late teens and early twenties. The judge stated, "The three victims were very young, it went on for a four-year period, and had affected the victims as they grew to adulthood."

Defence solicitor John Hedgecoe described Sullivan as a man of good character who had maintained an impeccable life for the past four decades. He acknowledged that Sullivan had been a victim of childhood abuse himself, but he had taken responsibility and expressed genuine remorse for his actions. Hedgecoe added that Sullivan suffered from ill health and was deeply affected by the convictions, feeling guilt he believed he would carry to his grave.

Sullivan pleaded guilty to eight charges, including indecency with a child and indecent assault.

Following the hearing, Detective Constable Philip Williams stated, "I hope this conviction and sentence reassures victims that no matter how long ago the offences took place, North Wales Police will take allegations seriously and that the matter will be fully investigated. It should also send a message to offenders that they will never be safe from arrest and prosecution."