In a bid to encourage other victims to come forward, a woman has shared the life-changing impact of the sexual abuse she suffered at the hands of a North Yorkshire man.
The woman, who has not been named, was sexually assaulted by John Dowson, 82, from the Whitby area. She told the court that her life had been “changed forever” by his actions.
Dowson was sentenced at York Crown Court this week for two counts of indecent assault and one count of sexual assault, involving multiple victims between the 1990s and 2024.
She addressed Dowson directly in a statement prepared for the court, telling him:
“My life was changed forever by your actions, not just mine, but the lives of so many others who were affected in the ripple effect of your choices.
“What you did caused me irreversible pain and fear. The kind of fear that creeps into everyday moments. That lingers within spaces where I used to feel safe.
“The damage you’ve done doesn’t just fade with time, it follows me and I believe it always will.”
She spoke about the long-term impact of the abuse, including issues with trust and self doubt:
“I second guess my own instincts. You took a part of my happiness, security and tranquillity that day.
“I hate to give that power to another human being, but I’d hate even more to see you get away with it.”
Dowson was given a 14 month custodial sentence, suspended for two years. He was also ordered to do 250 hours of community service.
In addition, he was given a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which imposes additional restrictions to stop him reoffending and will be closely managed by specialist police officers.
Dowson was also handed a 10-year restraining order and placed on the sex offenders’ register.
The woman welcomed the outcome, saying she is reassured that Dowson would be closely monitored to prevent him from reoffending.
She also thanked North Yorkshire Police for their support during the investigation and urged anyone who’s experienced sexual abuse to have the confidence to come forward and report it.
The detective who led the investigation, Detective Sergeant Arthur Ames of Scarborough and Ryedale CID, said:
“I’d like to thank the victims in this case for having the courage to come forward. I also hope this will encourage others to come forward knowing that the police will investigate any allegations thoroughly, no matter when they happened.
“All of the victims have chosen to have their voices heard and have exposed Dowson’s offending over decades.
“Their courage has led to today’s conviction that will not only mean that they have been heard but that Dowson will be on the sex offenders’ register so police and partners can apply appropriate safeguarding measures and prevent any further offending by him.
“Dowson has pleaded guilty but has shown no remorse for his actions or the impact they have had on the victims and their families.”