Corby child rapist died before he could be jailed for serious sexual assaults that spanned years
By Kate Cronin
Published 27th Feb 2026, 05:00 BST
A judge had to abandon the sentencing of a man who was found guilty of a horrifying string of sexual assaults after he died.
John Albert Letch, formerly of Birch Avenue in Corby, was originally charged in 2023 with 14 historic counts of sexual assaults on children including four rapes, five indecent assaults and two counts of gross indecency on boys and girls during the 1970s, 80s and 90s.
But Letch, who would now be 90-years-old, was not deemed fit to stand trial so the proceedings continued in his absence.
He was found guilty of offences including indecent assaults and rape.
He had been due to be sentence but on December 28 he died.
The case came back before Her Honour Judge Adrienne Lucking KC who ruled that the indictment was ineffective and therefore no sentencing could go ahead.