A ‘dangerous’ predator who sexually abused a young girl and then forced her to relive the trauma in court years later has been jailed. Stephen McPhee, 34, from Cheshire, was sentenced to seven years in prison and ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for life for his heinous crimes.
The offences came to light when his brave victim came forward, with the abuse dating back to when she was between nine and 11 years old. McPhee, of Rigby Avenue, Crewe, was found guilty of attempted rape of a girl under 13 following a six-day trial at Chester Crown Court. He was acquitted of two counts of rape.
He was sentenced last Thursday, September 4, at Chester Crown Court, where he was also subjected to a sexual harm prevention order.
Following his sentencing, Detective Constable Lindsay Wooffitt praised the victim’s courage, saying: “Firstly, I would like to commend the victim for the strength and courage she has shown throughout this case, and I hope the sentence handed to McPhee will provide her closure and a chance to move on with her life.
“McPhee is a dangerous individual who sexually abused a little girl. He showed no remorse throughout the entire investigation and even made his victim relive the experiences in court.
“Thankfully, as a result of the evidence gathered and the bravery of the victim, the jury were able to see through his lies, and he is now being held accountable for his actions.”
Det Con Wooffitt added: “As this case shows, Cheshire Constabulary takes any allegation of sexual offences extremely seriously, no matter how long ago they relate to.
“Any allegation will be thoroughly investigated, with the wishes and needs of the victim as our main priority. Victims should never feel ashamed to talk about what they have been subjected to.”
“They will receive the help and support they need from our specialist officers, as well as from other support agencies we work alongside, and all victims of sexual offences have the right to anonymity for life.”