Rodney Johnston, 67, was sentenced to life with a minimum of 16 years after being convicted of forcing a woman to have sex with more than 100 men between 1994 and 2024. Authorities recovered an archive of over 30,000 images and videos documenting the assaults, which occurred in secluded rural locations and pre-arranged hotel rooms. The victim, speaking publicly for the first time, described years of degradation and loss of agency and said, "For the first time in decades I am free." Police say investigations will continue to establish whether others were involved.
Man Sentenced to Life for Forcing Woman to Have Sex With More Than 100 Men Over 30 Years
Norfolk ConstabularyRodney Johnston
A 67-year-old British man, Rodney Johnston, has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 16 years after being convicted of forcing a woman to have sexual intercourse with more than 100 men over a roughly 30-year period.
The sentencing took place at Norwich Crown Court on Friday, Jan. 9. Judge Alice Robinson described Johnston's crimes as "rape in all but name," saying that the victim's outings with Johnston became "a byword for her being raped by strangers." The offences were found to have occurred between 1994 and 2024.
Scale and Nature of the Abuse
Prosecutors and Norfolk Police said Johnston organised repeated "outings" during which he took the woman to secluded woodland, remote countryside locations and pre-arranged hotel rooms and coerced her into sexual encounters with multiple men. Investigators recovered an extensive archive of material documenting the assaults — more than 30,000 photographs and videos spanning three decades.
Convictions and Court Remarks
Johnston was convicted of 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 intimidation of a witness. Prosecutors said he used threats and intimidation to compel the woman to submit to the encounters and that he filmed and photographed many of the assaults.
Stephen Pond/PA Images via GettyNorwich Crown and County Court
Judge Alice Robinson: "Rape in all but name."
Victim Statement
The victim, whose identity has been withheld, spoke publicly for the first time at the sentencing hearing. She described years of degradation and loss of agency, saying she had "no voice, no choice" and that she felt "dirty, sick, used, degraded, humiliated and terrified." She added: "For the first time in decades I am free."
Ongoing Investigation
Norfolk Police said investigations will continue to determine whether other people were involved and whether further offences should be charged. "Our focus will now shift to establishing if any further offences have been committed and if so, we'll conduct a thorough investigation to identify those responsible and do everything we can to bring them to justice," senior investigating officer Duncan Woodhams told the BBC.
Support Resources
If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, support is available. In the U.S., text "STRENGTH" to 741-741 to connect with a certified crisis counselor. In the U.K., contact local police or charities such as Rape Crisis or Victim Support for guidance and help.
Coverage of the case appeared in multiple outlets, including the BBC and Sky News, and Norfolk Police issued public statements detailing the scale and nature of the offending.
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