A 49-year-old man has been sentenced to prison after being convicted of grooming and sexually abusing a boy throughout his childhood.
Matthew Johnston, from Haynes Close in Tottenham, London, started sexually assaulting the child in Littlehampton when the boy was just four years old, back in 2014.
The abuse continued over numerous years, with Johnston repeatedly raping and sexually abusing the victim.
Johnston was a frequent visitor to comic convention events, leveraging Star Wars and superhero-themed gatherings to gain access to and groom the child.
The offences were disclosed to Sussex Police in December 2024. At that point, the victim and his family received assistance from specialist officers and detectives launched an investigation.
Johnston was taken into custody and faced charges including two counts of child rape involving a victim under 13, two counts of sexual assault of a child under 13, two counts of causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, and one count of engaging in sexual activity in front of a child.
He was convicted of every charge at Hove Crown Court on October 10.
When the same court reconvened on Monday, March 23, he received a 16-year prison sentence, followed by an additional five years on extended licence after magistrates determined he represented a danger to the public.
He has also been issued with an indefinite sexual harm prevention order, a restraining order and will remain listed on the sex offenders’ register.
Detective Constable Jacob Parkin stated that Johnston had groomed, manipulated and abused the young victim over many years, representing a complete betrayal of the trust placed in him and his family by the boy and his relatives.
He expressed gratitude to the victim and his family for their fortitude throughout the investigation, acknowledging the considerable difficulty of the process for them while noting their crucial role in securing justice for a dangerous predator.
He appealed to anyone who had experienced sexual offending, whether themselves or someone they were aware of, to contact Sussex Police, assuring them of support and a commitment to pursuing justice on their behalf.