A 67-year-old Norfolk man has been handed a life prison term with a minimum of 16 years after forcing a woman to engage in sexual acts with more than 100 strangers over a period spanning three decades.
Rodney Johnston, originally from Starston, received his sentence at Norwich Crown Court on Friday following his conviction in September.
The court heard how Johnston used threats to compel his victim to participate in sexual encounters with men at remote rural spots, inside vehicles, and at hotels.
Judge Alice Robinson described the woman’s victim impact statement as “harrowing,” noting it demonstrated “the severe and lifelong impact” of the prolonged abuse she suffered at Johnston’s hands.
Investigators discovered approximately 30,000 photographs and videos that documented the abuse Johnston inflicted upon his victim.
The judge told the court that the woman was made to “go out” on multiple occasions each week, with Johnston taking her as frequently as five nights weekly to hotels or secluded outdoor locations despite her protests.
“Going out became a byword for her being raped by strangers. This is rape in all but name,” Judge Robinson stated.
The coercion involved both physical and verbal threats, the court was told, with the victim facing punishment whenever Johnston believed she was not cooperating.
Johnston was sentenced at Norwich Crown Court
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Judge Robinson expressed her view that Johnston would pose a continuing danger to his victim for the remainder of his life, citing a “multitude of aggravating factors” including his complete refusal to accept responsibility for his actions.
In a statement released by police following the sentencing, the victim spoke of the devastating psychological toll the abuse had taken on her.
She revealed that Johnston had exploited her vulnerability, leaving her feeling “dirty, sick, used, degraded, humiliated and terrified,” adding that this treatment “became my norm.”
“I had no voice, no choice,” she said.
‘I feel anxious about the future, but for the first time in decades, I am free,’ the victim said
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PA
The woman, who retains lifelong anonymity, explained that she no longer knows who she is and must now work to rebuild herself, often feeling lost about where to start.
“I feel anxious about the future, but for the first time in decades, I am free,” she stated.
The jury had been unable to reach a verdict on a separate rape charge, which will now lie on file.
Johnston was convicted of six offences committed between 1994 and 2024: 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 witness intimidation.
Throughout the trial, which lasted seven weeks, he denied all charges and maintained the sexual activity was consensual.
Police evidence contradicted his claims, with thousands of messages and images supporting the victim’s account, including communications she had sent to a friend describing the abuse.
Johnston had used adult social networks and mass text messages to arrange encounters, later dismissing these as “fantasy” and “banter.”
Senior investigating officer Duncan Woodhams praised the victim’s courage, stating: “We’re grateful for her trust in us, allowing us to present the full scale of Johnston’s prolonged, disturbing and truly awful abuse.”
Police confirmed they would now investigate whether further offences had been committed.