**Afghanistan War Veteran Jailed for Raping Vulnerable Teenagers**
A former British soldier, who served in Afghanistan, has been handed a lengthy prison sentence for raping two vulnerable teenagers while they were intoxicated. The case, heard at Swansea Crown Court, has shone a spotlight on the lasting trauma inflicted on his victims and the manipulative tactics used to distort the truth.
Johnathan Sutton, 35, previously of the Afan Valley and now residing in Bloxwich, Walsall, was found guilty of two counts of rape following a trial. The assaults were committed in 2021 and involved two young women, aged 17 and 18 at the time. The prosecution revealed that both victims were heavily intoxicated during the attacks, with the court hearing that Sutton had deliberately plied one of them with alcohol to render her more vulnerable.
During the sentencing hearing, powerful victim impact statements were read out. The survivors described how the attacks have left them grappling with intense psychological repercussions. One young woman told the court she struggles to process her emotions, experiencing brain fog, mood swings and recurrent panic attacks. The second victim revealed she has been plagued by nightmares and flashbacks, so severe that she has been forced to leave college. Both expressed a deep loss of trust in others and a sense of lasting fear.
Barrister Robin Rouch, representing the prosecution, underscored the significant harm caused, noting that Sutton continued to manipulate his victims after the attacks. He reportedly tried to persuade them that they had instigated the sexual encounters, an assertion firmly contradicted by the evidence and rejected by the jury.
Defence barrister David Leathley faced an unenviable challenge, as Sutton continues to profess his innocence. Leathley highlighted Sutton’s previous service in the British Army, pointing to a record of bravery and dedication during a seven-month deployment to Afghanistan. However, the barrister acknowledged that Sutton’s exit from the military had followed a period of frustration and described his post-service life as tumultuous, marred by a toxic relationship and problematic alcohol use.
Sutton has also previously been convicted of offences involving threatening and violent behaviour, further fuelling concerns about his risk to others. Despite positive testimonials from some individuals in his current community—one neighbour described him as upstanding and of good moral character—the severity and nature of his offences could not be overlooked by the court.
Presiding Judge Catherine Richards described Sutton as a “large, imposing man” who deliberately took advantage of the petite, intoxicated teenagers. She condemned his attempts to manipulate and blame his victims, stressing that, while he could present himself positively, he could also act with alarming and uncontrollable aggression. Judge Richards summed up Sutton as “calculating and manipulative,” warning that he posed an ongoing threat to the public.
In view of the risk Sutton poses, Judge Richards imposed an 18-year extended sentence, comprising 14 years in prison and an additional four years on licence. Sutton will be on the sex offenders register for life and is subject to a sexual harm prevention order, designed to offer further protection to the public.
The court proceedings have stirred renewed conversation around support for survivors of sexual abuse. Several national charities were referenced, including Lifecentre, NAPAC, Rape Crisis England & Wales, One in Four, and Safeline, emphasising the wide-ranging help available to those affected by sexual violence. Each organisation provides specialist counselling, helplines, and advocacy for survivors and their supporters, underscoring that no victim needs to face the aftermath alone.
The case of Johnathan Sutton is a stark reminder of the hidden dangers faced by vulnerable individuals and the life-altering consequences of sexual violence. While Sutton maintains his innocence, justice has been served according to the evidence examined by the court, and crucially, the voices of his victims have been heard.