In 2019, the Offender Database reported that John Potts, then 71, of Hull, was sentenced at Hull Crown Court following a “sickening” sexual assault on a 12-year-old girl. Potts, who had dementia and a brain injury, was found to have committed the acts after being detained by a group of citizens who witnessed the aftermath of the attack.
The court heard that the victim was riding her bike when John Potts intercepted her, telling her, “You’re going in the park to do rude things.” He then pulled the girl off her bike and dragged her into the bushes in a park in Hull, where he pinned her to the ground and repeatedly sexually assaulted her. The attack only ceased when a passing motorist noticed a “scuffle” in the bushes, turned her car around, and rushed to the girl’s aid, joined by a group of men.
A video of the aftermath, which circulated on social media at the time, showed Potts pulling up his trousers while being detained by the witnesses. When told the police were being called, Potts reportedly replied, “I don’t care about the police.” Forensic evidence found on the victim’s clothing later confirmed his involvement, with experts stating the DNA match was “a billion times more likely” to be from him. The victim provided distressing testimony, describing how Potts had forced his hand over her mouth during the assault.
Due to his advanced dementia and significant brain injury, John Potts was deemed unfit to stand trial. Instead, a “trial of facts” was held, where a jury found that he had committed two counts of sexual assault on a child under 13 and one count of inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity. Judge Paul Watson QC noted that the medical evidence indicated Potts’ condition was irreversible and that he posed a significant risk to the public if not strictly managed.
On Friday, April 12, 2019, John Potts was sentenced to an indefinite hospital order under Section 37 of the Mental Health Act, coupled with a Section 41 restriction order. This means he will be detained in a secure mental health facility and cannot be released unless authorised by the Home Secretary or a mental health tribunal.
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