In 2021, John-Paul Zegstroo, a then 28-year-old man from Scarborough, was jailed for 21 years after being convicted of child rape and filming the abuse.
John-Paul Zegstroo, of Overdale Gardens, Scarborough, was sentenced at York Crown Court to 21 years in prison after a jury convicted him of two counts of rape of a child under 13, sexual assault of a child under 13, causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, and taking indecent images. The court heard how Zegstroo filmed the severe physical abuse of a female toddler, with medical assessments demonstrating long-term developmental impacts on the victim. Before his trial, Zegstroo repeatedly attempted to delay court proceedings by making false medical visits to hospitals in York and Scarborough before police officers arrested him upon discharge to ensure his attendance in court.
Judge Simon Hickey condemned Zegstroo’s calculated attempts to evade justice and noted his persistent dishonesty across pre-sentence evaluations and medical reviews. Highlighting the extreme gravity of the offences and the permanent harm caused, the judge handed down the 21-year custodial term. In addition to his prison sentence, the court imposed strict lifelong monitoring restrictions to protect the public upon his eventual release.
In addition to his 21-year prison term, Zegstroo was placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life.
He was also made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) for life to strictly control his future conduct and prevent any contact with children.
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