A former house parent Abingdon paedophile, John William Laister, at a children’s home in Scarborough has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for sexually abusing a child under his care during the 1970s.
John William Laister, 83, of Sunningwell, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, presently incarcerated in Full Sutton Prison on a 12-year sentence for analogous offences, was sentenced at York Crown Court on Tuesday, May 20, 2025.
On 4 February 2025, he entered a guilty plea for the indecent assault of a male under the age of 14.
John William Laister was formerly worked as a house parent at May Lodge children’s home in Scarborough. In 1970, a youngster residing at the home was recuperating in bed from significant surgery when John William Laister entered his room and sexually molested him by placing his hands inside the child’s pyjamas.
After being moved on following allegations against him, he continued to abuse young girls while acting as a Sunday school teacher at the Thorpe Edge Evangelical Church.
The court heard one of the victims, who was raped and abused at the home, had suffered an epileptic fit after giving evidence via a videolink.
The victim endured this for almost 50 years and recently summoned the strength to disclose the abuse to law enforcement.
Investigating officer, Detective Constable Ali Morris, from our Non-recent Abuse Investigation Team, said: “It was John William Laister’s job to ensure that his victim lived in a safe and secure environment, instead he abused the trust placed in him and sought the vulnerable victim out for his own selfish, sexual gratification.
“The victim was highly vulnerable, he was having to navigate the care system, he did not have a mother or father he could confide in. He was sexually assaulted by the defendant, whose job it was to look after the wellbeing and welfare of children in the home. The defendant, John William Laister, would have been well aware of the victim’s background and vulnerability and saw him as easy prey.
“I want to praise the victim for his bravery in coming forward and reporting this awful abuse that has had a detrimental effect on his whole life. I sincerely hope the outcome at court offers him some form of closure.
“I hope this outcome also gives other victims the courage to come forward, it’s never too late and we will do all we can to get justice.”
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