A 67-year-old man has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 16 years after subjecting a woman to three decades of systematic sexual abuse involving more than 100 men.
Rodney Johnston, from Starston in Norfolk, was convicted following an eight-week trial at Norwich Crown Court in September. He received his sentence on Friday after a jury found him guilty of multiple offences including procuring a woman to have sexual intercourse by threats and intimidation.
Judge Alice Robinson described the victim’s impact statement as “harrowing” and noted the “profound and lifelong consequences” of the abuse. She stated it was “difficult to comprehend how appalling his offending was” and highlighted a “multitude of aggravating factors” including Johnston’s lack of responsibility.
Authorities discovered approximately 30,000 images and videos documenting the abuse, which took place between 1994 and 2024.
The court heard that Johnston arranged encounters up to five nights a week in secluded woodlands, remote rural areas, vehicles, and hotels, where he filmed and photographed the acts. He recruited men through adult social networks and mass text messages advertising times and locations.
According to evidence presented at trial, Johnston preyed on the woman’s vulnerability, threatening her for non-compliance and punishing perceived uncooperativeness.
In her victim impact statement, the woman said: “I felt dirty, sick, used, degraded, humiliated and terrified – but this became my norm.”
She added: “I no longer know who I am… Now I must rebuild myself and I often feel lost and unsure where to begin… I feel anxious about the future, but for the first time in decades I am free.”
Johnston was convicted on three counts of procuring a woman to have sexual intercourse by threats or intimidation, two counts of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent, and one count of intimidating a witness. The jury could not reach a verdict on a rape charge.
He was arrested in July 2024 and subsequently violated his bail terms. During the trial, Johnston claimed the encounters were consensual and suggested some messages were mere fantasy.
Senior investigating officer Duncan Woodhams praised the victim’s courage in coming forward. He called the sentencing the result of “painstaking work due to the sheer volume of evidence” and described the abuse as “prolonged, disturbing, and truly horrific.”
Mr Woodhams added: “Whilst this sentence cannot undo what happened to her we hope she can now take those steps to build her life on her own terms. She has shown remarkable bravery. And to anyone else who is suffering abuse please come forward and know you will be listened to and supported.”
Norfolk Police have confirmed they plan further investigations into potential additional offences and other parties who may have been involved. Messages from the victim to a friend have provided additional validation of her account.
