Child rapist jailed for 22 years
AFORMER Runcorn man who sexually abused eight young victims – including raping a four-year-old boy – has been jailed for 22 years.
A judge also imposed an extended three year licence and told 48-yearold John Phillips that while he could apply for parole after serving half his sentence he might not be released until 2040.
Phillips, now of Wharton Road, Winsford, had absconded on the first day of his trial earlier this month and it began in his absence before he was caught by police – by which time one of this victims, whom he had raped when the boy was about 12, had undergone the ordeal of giving his evidence and being crossexamined.
After being apprehended Phillips, a former resident of both Runcorn and Widnes, changed his plea to guilty to 15 sex offences and the other six he faced were ordered to lie on the file.
Sentencing him Judge Rachel Smith said he had groomed his vulnerable victims over a 15-year period and victim impact statements spoke of the profound affect his behaviour had on their lives.
He had showered some of the victims, both girls and boys, with gifts but Judge Smith said that he was not being philanthropic.
She said: “It is clear you were grooming them to take advantage of them.”
Arthur Gibson, prosecuting, told Liverpool Crown Court that all but one of the victims were children and the other was in her late teens, and the charges – some of which were specimen offences – ranged from sexual touching to rape. “He destroyed their innocence and their childhood,” he said.
The allegations against Phillips first emerged in 2000 and again in 2009 and 2014, but although he was interviewed he was not charged.
Two years ago, however, after some of the victims went to the police, a fresh investigation began which led to the sentencing.
As well as raping one boy when he was four years old he raped two other boys who were aged five.
Phillips, formerly a pizza delivery driver, pleaded guilty to six rape offences, four indecent assaults, three of indecency with a child, one sexual assault and one of causing a child to engage in sexual activity.
The showed no defendant reaction when sentenced by the judge.
Phillips’ barrister, Stuart Duke, said: “There are deeply unpleasant and serious offences for which he is aware he will go to prison for a long time.”
Mr Duke added that Phillips, who has previous convictions but none for sex offences, had himself been abused as a child: “He says he is damaged and needs help and long term therapy.” ●