JONATHAN BUTTON FROM SOUTHWOLD SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX ABUSE IN NORWICH AND KING'S LYNN

In a case that has shocked the local community of Southwold and the surrounding areas, Jonathan Button, a 62-year-old former social worker, has been handed a lengthy prison sentence after being convicted of multiple child sex offences. The sentencing took place at Norwich Crown Court, where the judge described Button as posing a significant risk to the public due to his manipulative behavior and history of offending.

Button, who previously resided on Hotson Road in Southwold, admitted to nine sexual offences involving two young victims. The offences spanned a period starting from 1999, with abuse reportedly beginning when one of the children was only eight years old. The victims, who had kept their suffering hidden for years, finally found the courage to come forward and report the abuse, a process that was emotionally taxing and filled with feelings of fear and disbelief.

During the court proceedings, the prosecution, led by Stephen Spence, revealed that one of the victims had expressed in an impact statement that they had "bottled up" what had happened to them. Both victims shared that they did not initially report the abuse because they believed they would not be believed, highlighting the profound psychological impact of Button’s actions.

It was also disclosed that Button had prior convictions related to possessing indecent images of children and had previously failed to comply with the requirements of his sex offender’s notification order. These past offences underscored a pattern of behavior that the court considered when determining his current sentence.

Judge Recorder John Gallagher sentenced Button to a total of 17 years, comprising a 12-year prison term followed by five years on extended licence. The judge described Button as a manipulative individual who exploited the trust placed in him by offering treats to the children he groomed. The judge emphasized that Button’s actions were driven by perverted and deviant sexual motives, which caused lasting damage to the victims.

In his remarks, Recorder Gallagher acknowledged the difficulty victims face in admitting what happened to them, noting that their initial silence was rooted in fear of disbelief. He stated, "You have had a serious effect on the lives of these children, stealing from them in their childhood their innocence, and it continues to affect them to this very day."

Furthermore, the judge pointed out Button’s history of ignoring court orders, reinforcing the assessment that he remains a significant threat to society. Despite this, he recognized that Button’s guilty pleas were a mitigating factor, and expressed hope that the sentencing would provide some measure of closure for the victims.

Stephen Dyble, representing Button, highlighted that his client’s guilty pleas spared the victims from the ordeal of giving evidence in court. It was also noted that Button is already registered on the sex offenders’ register for life, reflecting the severity of his crimes.

Earlier in 2017, in July, Button faced additional allegations related to a series of child sex offences spanning a decade. He pleaded guilty to nine charges, including indecency with a child, indecent assault, sexual activity, and serious sexual assault. The remaining 16 charges were left on file, with the court hearing that the offences occurred between 1999 and 2009, involving children as young as eight years old. The case was scheduled for sentencing at Cambridge Crown Court on August 25.

Back in June 2000, Button was also convicted of downloading over 2,000 indecent images of children onto a computer belonging to the Norfolk and Norwich Families House, a charity for disadvantaged children where he served as a director. He admitted to six sample charges of making indecent images of children between January and May of that year. For this offence, he was sentenced to three months in jail and was ordered to register as a sex offender for seven years, further illustrating a troubling pattern of predatory behavior that has spanned many years and multiple offences.