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A man from Norfolk has been sentenced to a minimum of 16 years in prison after being found guilty of forcing a woman to engage in sexual activities with over 100 men across a span of 30 years. Rodney Johnston, aged 67 and residing in Starston, was convicted following a trial in September, during which the court was told that he had coerced the victim under threats, compelling her to perform sex acts in various locations, including secluded countryside spots, cars, and hotels. Prosecutors revealed that Johnston also recorded and photographed the abuse.
At Norwich Crown Court, Judge Alice Robinson handed down a life sentence to Johnston, emphasizing the severe and lifelong impact the crimes had on the victim. The judge described the victim’s impact statement as “harrowing,” noting that the coercion involved both physical and verbal threats. Authorities discovered around 30,000 images and videos that documented the ongoing abuse, underscoring the extent of the victim’s exploitation.
The judge commented on the frequency of the abuse, stating that the victim was forced to “go out” several times a week—a euphemism that actually meant being raped by strangers. She described this as “rape in all but name” and expressed her belief that Johnston would remain a threat to the victim indefinitely. After the sentencing, the woman shared a statement acknowledging the ongoing trauma she experienced, expressing how she felt “used” and “terrified” but also noting a sense of freedom, despite anxiety about the future. She said, “I had no voice, no choice. I feel anxious about the future, but for the first time in decades I am free.”
Johnston was convicted of various offences spanning from 1994 to 2024, including three counts of procuring a woman to have sexual intercourse through threats or intimidation, two counts of causing someone to engage in sexual activity without consent, and one count of witness intimidation. Throughout the seven-week trial, he denied the charges, maintaining that all encounters were consensual. However, the evidence presented by the police supported the victim’s account of coercion and exploitation. Investigations revealed that Johnston used adult social networks and mass text messages to advertise times and locations for the sexual encounters. He dismissed these messages as “banter” and claimed they were a fantasy. Still, extensive digital evidence, including messages from the victim describing her experiences, upheld her version of events.
Further distress was caused when Johnston breached his bail conditions following his arrest in July 2024. Senior investigating officer Duncan Woodhams praised the victim’s bravery for coming forward and highlighted the exhaustive effort needed to compile the vast amount of evidence. Woodhams described the case as illustrating “prolonged, disturbing and truly awful abuse” and confirmed that the police would continue investigating to determine if other offences had occurred and to bring any additional perpetrators to justice
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