Rodney Johnston is a monster for whom his victim was 'nothing more than an object', she said
Carrington Walker
16:01, 09 Jan 2026Updated 18:28, 09 Jan 2026
A victim of 30 years of sexual abuse who was forced to have sex with 'up to 1000 men' says she is free for 'the first time in decades' after her twisted abuser was jailed for life.
Sixty-seven-year-old Rodney Johnston, of HMP Norwich, was convicted of multiple offences, including 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 on Friday (January 9).
The victim, who will remain anonymous, said in a statement read to Norwich Crown Court that “For the first time in decades I am free," before a jury reached its verdicts, bringing an end to the trial focusing on abuse committed between 1994 and 2024. Jurors were unable to reach a verdict on a charge of rape, which will lie on file.
“I found myself in a situation I never imagined I would be in,” she continued, adding that it was easier to comply with Johnston than face the consequences of defying him.
“What I then went on to endure I would not wish on anybody. I had no voice, no choice. I felt dirty, sick, used, degraded, humiliated and terrified – but his became my norm.”
Detectives discovered some 30,000 images and videos documenting the abuse which happened during “outings” to secluded woodland or pre-arranged hotel rooms where the victim would be made to engage sexually with multiple men.
The victim described Johnston as a monster for whom she was “nothing more than an object.”
“I no longer know who I am,” she said: “Now I must rebuild myself, and I often feel lost and unsure where to begin. I feel anxious about the future, but for the first time in decades, I am free.”
Following the verdict, Norfolk Police issued a statement saying: "With the conclusion of phase one and the conviction of the defendant, our focus now shifts to establishing if any further offences have been committed and if so, we will conduct a thorough investigation to identify those responsible and do everything possible to try to bring them to justice.”
The victim's family has expressed that they are “endlessly proud” of her courage throughout the legal process, with Judge Alice Robinson telling Johnston it was "difficult to comprehend how appalling his offending was", adding there were a "multitude of aggravating factors, including a failure to accept any responsibility for his actions.
She sentenced him to life with a minimum term of 16 years. Following this, senior investigating officer Duncan Woodhams said: “Today’s sentence is the result of painstaking work due to the sheer volume of evidence involved, and of course, the courage of the victim in telling us about what she has endured.
“We are grateful for her trust in us, allowing us to present the full scale of Johnston’s prolonged, disturbing, and truly awful abuse. Whilst this sentence cannot undo what happened to her, we hope she can now take those steps to build her life on her own terms. She has shown remarkable bravery.
“And to anyone else who is suffering abuse please come forward and know you will be listened to and supported.”