On Thursday, June 6, John Roberts was sentenced to three years in prison - in addition to his current nine-year sentence - following the historic abuse of a St Helens choirboy in the 1970s. In a trial starting at Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday, May 28, a jury heard how Roberts was accused of touching a young boy's groin area above his clothing and "kissing him as you would embrace your partner" on multiple occasions. The abuse is reported to have taken place in the church rectory, study, and lounge, as well as in Roberts' car and on a trip away, when the victim was aged between 10 and 13.
READ > Post Office reopens with new changes after fears it had closed for good The abuse took place in the church grounds in the 1970s (Image: Google Maps) With the church playing a major role in the victim's family life, prosecutor Steven Ball explained that the psychological impact of the abuse has affected the victim throughout his life, and resulted in him receiving psychiatric treatment decades later. It was also explained that the abuse severed the relationship that the victim had with his mother, as she refused to acknowledge the reality of the situation and failed to act on the information that her son told her. With Roberts going on to sexually abuse at least three more boys and one man following the incidents in the 1970s, the victim described the former vicar as a "monster" who "has shown absolutely no remorse" to the people he has abused.
In a victim impact statement read out i.
