LEWIS STACEY SENTENCED IN SHEFFIELD FOR RAPE OF 12-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN LOCAL PARK
A man from Sheffield has been sentenced to eight and a half years in prison after being convicted of raping a 12-year-old girl in a local park.The Sheffield Crown Court heard detailed accounts of how Lewis Stacey, aged 21, manipulated the young victim through social media to facilitate his crimes.
According to court proceedings, Stacey used Snapchat to communicate with the girl, employing a false name and falsely claiming he was only 15 years old.
This deception was part of his strategy to gain her trust and lower her guard.
The victim first encountered Stacey in June 2022, and during their initial meeting, he subjected her to sexual assault on two separate occasions.
The court was told that Stacey then arranged to meet the girl again in a Sheffield park in July 2022.
During this subsequent meeting, he led her into some bushes where he committed another act of rape.
Detective Constable Jason Earl, who was involved in the investigation, praised the bravery of the young girl for coming forward and reporting the assaults to the police.
He emphasized the importance of her courage in helping bring Stacey to justice.
Upon his arrest, Stacey initially denied any involvement or knowledge of the victim, claiming he had never met her.
However, forensic evidence collected during the investigation proved his guilt beyond doubt, leading him to plead guilty in court.
The case has had a significant emotional impact on the victim, and Detective Earl expressed admiration for her resilience and dignity throughout the legal process.
He also stated that Stacey’s incarceration ensures he cannot cause further harm, and he hoped that the sentencing would help the victim begin to move forward with her life.
South Yorkshire Police reiterated their commitment to taking all reports of sexual assault seriously and assured the public that they would continue to work tirelessly to bring offenders to justice.
Stacey, who resides on Richmond Hall Road, appeared before Sheffield Crown Court on October 6, 2023.
During the hearing, he pleaded guilty to four counts of raping a child under 13.
On February 8, 2024, Stacey was sentenced to eight and a half years in prison.
The court also imposed a fifteen-year restraining order preventing him from contacting the victim and issued an eight and a half-year sexual harm prevention order, which will take effect upon his release from prison.
This comprehensive sentence aims to protect the community and support the ongoing recovery of the young victim.
