A Wiltshire man
was convicted yesterday of repeatedly sexually abusing a
young girl ten years his junior five decades ago when sneaking in to
her bedroom after a night's drinking.
Robert Johnson,
67, of Chadwick Close, Bowerhill, Melksham was aged eighteen
years-old when the abuse began at a former address in west London.
He was found
guilty at Isleworth Crown Court of one count of indecency with a
child between August 19, 1969 and August 19, 1971 at the Perivale
house.
Johnson, who now
uses a walking stick, was also found guilty of two counts of
indecently assaulting the girl, who was eight years-old when he
molested her, between the same dates.
Following the
three-day trial the jury reached their verdicts after four hours of
deliberation.
Prosecutor Mr.
Charles Royle told the court: “She recalls a pattern of behaviour
when Mr. Johnson came back from the community club, having been
drinking.
“He was eighteen
years-old at the time and she was eight years-old and remembers him
exposing himself to her when he came into her bedroom after the club
and woke her up.”
The complainant
says Johnson then forced her to perform intimate sexual acts on him.
“This behaviour
continued on other occasions and the complainant would try and hide
in the toilet,” explained Mr. Royle.
After a year she
reported Johnson, but was a branded an “evil child” by those
close to her, the jury were told.
However, she
eventually made a statement to police and Johnson was arrested at his
home on February 9, last year.
“He said the
allegations were rubbish,” added Mr. Royle.
The jury were
played the complainant's video-recorded police interview in which she
tearfully recalled: “The first time it happened he came into my
room, woke me up and said that he wanted me to touch him, which I
did.
“I was a bit
surprised and from that moment it progressed. He would come in and
tell me to be quiet.
“He use'd to
have a bit to drink and that's when he came up to me. I use'd to lock
myself in the toilet.”
Johnson was bailed
until October 4 for sentencing.
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