In 2026, the Offender Database recorded that Jonathan Marshall, 75, was sentenced to 24 years in prison for the historic sexual abuse of a young pupil. Appearing at Kingston Crown Court, the defendant—formerly known as John Lillis—was convicted of a series of attacks committed in the late 1980s. It was reported that Marshall, a retired teacher and choirmaster at St. Dunstan’s Middle Catholic School in Woking, Surrey, targeted a boy aged between eight and 10.
The investigation established that the abuse took place within St Dunstan’s Catholic Church and at a deserted property where the victim was driven to be abused by Marshall and another man. Surrey Police reported that Marshall had previously changed his name by deed poll in 2017 to distance himself from his past convictions. The prosecution reported that Marshall was a repeat offender, having been jailed in 2013 for sexually abusing two other pupils between 1976 and 1982.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Marshall’s latest victim described an intense panic upon realising he was too small to fight against two adult men. Kingston Crown Court heard that when police searched Marshall’s computer, they discovered a collection of paedophile stories that he had continued to consume. The investigation established that because the offences occurred in the 1980s, the charges of buggery and indecent assault on a male were used, as these were not classified as rape until the Sexual Offences Act 2003 came into effect.
Judge Peter Lodder KC handed Marshall a 24-year custodial sentence with an additional year on extended licence, noting that the defendant would likely die behind bars. For his actions in Woking, Marshall was found guilty of nine charges of indecent assault, three counts of buggery, and one of indecency with a child. The judge noted that the Attorney General had previously increased a 2013 sentence against the defendant for being unduly lenient, ensuring that this latest term reflected the lifelong trauma inflicted on his victims.
Status and Statutory Requirements
For the crimes reported in England, the status of Jonathan Marshall as of March 2026 is as follows:
- Custodial Sentence: 24 years plus 1 year extended licence (Sentenced 2026).
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements are active for life.
- Alias: Previously known as John Lillis (Changed by deed poll in 2017).
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Kingston Crown Court following a Surrey Police investigation.
- Criminal Record: Buggery (3 counts); Indecent assault (9 counts); Indecency with a child.
- Origin: Woking, Surrey.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Marshall is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) as a high-risk predator within the prison estate. Due to the nature of his conduct in Woking, which involved the systematic grooming and abuse of pupils while acting as a choirmaster and teacher, his management is a maximum priority. Authorities state that his history of changing his name to evade his reputation and his continued consumption of abusive literature necessitate the most stringent monitoring by the Public Protection Unit.
As a registered sex offender for life, Marshall’s details—and all his known aliases—are permanently logged on the national police database. Authorities state that his predatory behaviour in Surrey over several decades requires permanent vigilance should he ever be considered for compassionate release due to his age. Any future attempt to contact former pupils or access unmonitored digital devices will result in immediate intervention to ensure the ongoing safety of the public and to uphold the protection of children from those who abuse positions of religious and educational trust.
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