John Parrish to serve time in jail for sexual abuse after sentencing at Manchester Crown Court | Bolt Burdon Kemp John Parrish to serve time in jail for sexual abuse after sentencing at Manchester Crown Court | Bolt Burdon Kemp

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John Parrish to serve time in jail for sexual abuse after sentencing at Manchester Crown Court

Today, 19 May 2017, John Parrish appeared at Manchester Crown Court to be sentenced for indecently assaulting a child under the age of 14, between 1969 to 1972. Parrish was sentenced to eight years imprisonment plus one additional year on licence. The judge also made a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, to last indefinitely. Parrish was sentenced following his guilty plea and conviction, in February 2017, of ten counts of indecent assault on a child under the age of 14.

Parrish, aged 70, who also went by the names of “Michael Lewis” and “John Perry” was a Scout Master at 1st North Grecian Street, Salford Scout Group in the 1960s and 1970s. He also worked at West Salford Youth Club. The abuse took place at the school where the cubs and scouts would have their meetings and on camping trips in Devon and Norfolk. Parrish also carried out assaults at the youth club.

The victim, who was aged between 8 and 12 at the time, made clear in his impact statement that his ‘life changed the day his abuse started’.

Parrish referred to his acts as ‘horseplay’ and ‘a bit of fun,  I took it too far’. During submissions in mitigation of his crimes, the barrister representing Parrish said he is ‘now a man with permanent medical difficulties‘ and requested that the Court took this into account when sentencing Parrish for offences committed over 40 years ago.

Judge Steiger, in his sentencing remarks, stated that Parrish ‘took advantage of his position of Scout Master and later at the Youth Club, and he caused  ‘considerable destruction to the victim’s life’.

The police believe that there may be other victims of Parrish, who are yet to come forward.

Siobhan Crawford is an associate solicitor in the Abuse team at Bolt Burdon Kemp. If you or a loved one have a claim, contact Siobhan free of charge and in confidence on 020 7288 4886 or at siobhancrawford@boltburdonkemp.co.uk.  Alternatively, complete this form and one of the solicitors in the Abuse team will contact you. Find out more about the Abuse team.

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