Taped rape confession leads to former soldier being jailed

A BRITISH former soldier who served in the Bosnian conflict has been jailed for nine years after his victim taped his rape confessions.

Former prison officer John Johnstone, 50, was covertly recorded during phone calls as the woman spoke about how he forced her into sexual relations on a number of occasions when she was a child.

Sentencing him at the High Court in Edinburgh, Judge Michael O’Grady QC said he was guilty of “depravity, wickedness and [a] breach of trust.”

The High Court in Edinburgh heard how Johnstone, who completed two tours of duty in Bosnia with the Royal Corps of Signals, apologised to the woman during a dreadful conversation between the pair.

Johnstone was convicted of abusing and raping the girl when she was aged between two and 11 over a decade from 1980.

He denied the charges, but was convicted court trial.

Sentencing, Judge O’Grady said he had caused his child victim lasting damage into adulthood.

Johnstone was also placed on the sex offenders’ register. after a