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Loyalist paramilitary money lender who abused teenage girl jailed

17 Dec

A loyalist paramilitary who sexually abused a teenage girl in his flat when she was round paying off a family loan was jailed on Friday.

Jackie Greer Johnston - who is currently serving a sentence for similar sexual offences - was handed a sentence of three years and four months which was divided equally between prison and licence.

Downpatrick Crown Court Judge Geoffrey Miller QC described a statement made by the victim as “harrowing” and said Johnston had used his “perceived status and position” to both intimidate and abuse her.

Despite his initial denials, the 51-year old admitted four counts of indecently assaulting the girl between June 1999 and June 2001.

In May 2017 the victim made a report to the PSNI claiming she had been abused by Johnston when she was aged between 14 and 15.

She told police that in 1999 a relative borrowed money off Johnston to buy a sofa, and that once a week after school she was given £20 to deliver to Johnston as repayment for the loan.

Whilst in his West Green flat in Holywood, Johnston abused the teenager over a year-long period.

On one occasion someone knocked the door which prompted Johnston to grab her by the throat and place his hand over her mouth.

She also recalled an incident when Johnston stopped his car in Holywood, told her to get in then drove her to Craigantlet Hills where he again abused her.

Following her complaint made in 2017, police launched an investigation and Johnston was arrested in June 2019.

He said he knew the girl ‘to see’ and that her relative ‘might have’ borrowed money off him -buy denied abusing her.

Judge Miller said one of the only mitigating factors was Johnston’s eventual plea, which spared the women the ordeal of giving evidence at a trial.

The Judge said that after reading a statement she made, there has been a traumatic impact on every aspect of her life at re-living the abuse she suffered as a teenager.

He added: “One can only hope that subsequent to today’s proceedings, steps can be taken to help her re-build her life.”

Turning to Johnston, the Judge described him as a man “involved in loyalist paramilitary activity” who was exiled to Kent in 2009 due to a feud.

Pointing out he had an “extensive and highly relevant criminal record” for similar offences, Judge Miller said there was “no doubt” he used his status to intimidate and control all his victims.

Johnston appeared for his sentencing via a videolink with Maghaberry, and after it was imposed Judge Miller told the prison staff “the defendant may be returned to his cell.”