NEIL STUBBS SENTENCED TO 14 YEARS IN HARROGATE FOR CHILD SEX ABUSE

In August 2022, a harrowing case unfolded in York Crown Court involving Neil Michael Stubbs, a 27-year-old man from Kingsley Park Road, Harrogate, who was convicted of a series of heinous sexual offenses against a young girl. The court sentenced Stubbs to a substantial term of 14 years in prison, a punishment that reflects the severity of his crimes and the judge’s condemnation of his actions.

Stubbs was found guilty on 13 separate counts after a four-day trial that revealed the disturbing extent of his abuse. The court heard emotionally charged testimonies from the victim, whose identity remains protected for legal reasons. The jury’s verdict confirmed Stubbs’s guilt on charges including attempted rape of a child under 13, multiple counts of sexual activity in the presence of a minor, sexual assault, possession of indecent images, and inciting a child to engage in sexual acts.

Prosecutor Paul Newcombe detailed the nature of the offenses, describing some as “specimen counts,” indicating they occurred on multiple occasions. He explained that Stubbs had persistently pressured the young girl to send him nude photographs and, on one occasion, attempted to rape her. The victim managed to fend off his advances during that incident. On another occasion, Stubbs expressed a disturbing fantasy of having sex with a virgin and warned her to keep silent about the abuse, telling her she must “take it to her grave.”

Following Stubbs’s arrest, authorities seized his mobile phone, which contained indecent images of children, including photographs of the victim. Some of these images were classified as Category A, representing the most severe form of such material. The evidence painted a picture of Stubbs’s unhealthy obsession with children, further underscoring the gravity of his misconduct.

The victim, in a heartfelt statement read aloud in court, described how Stubbs’s actions had “stripped” her of her childhood and left her to grapple with the devastating aftermath. She revealed that her mental health had significantly deteriorated since the abuse, with suicidal thoughts and two attempts at taking her own life. She also described suffering from severe social anxiety, difficulty trusting others—especially men—and struggling to leave her home. Her words conveyed the profound mental and emotional toll inflicted by Stubbs’s wicked actions, which she characterized as “mental torture.”

Her mother, who has also undergone counseling since the case came to light, expressed her anguish, stating, “The impact this whole incident has had on my family as a whole is monumental. The worst thing in the world is knowing that (my daughter) will always suffer for the rest of her life.”

Judge Morris addressed Stubbs directly, condemning his repeated abuse and the disturbing nature of his fantasies. He highlighted the trauma inflicted on both the girl and her mother, emphasizing the overwhelming evidence against Stubbs and criticizing his decision to proceed to trial, which added further trauma to the victim.

In delivering the sentence, the judge stated, “This is a sentence that you richly deserve. This girl attempted suicide twice and has had her life turned upside down by the abuse she suffered at your hands…and it is unforgivable.”

Stubbs will serve half of his 14-year sentence in prison before being eligible for parole. Additionally, the court ordered an extended one-year period on prison licence, considering him an “offender of particular concern.” He will also be placed on the sex offenders’ register for life and subject to a 20-year sexual-harm prevention order, ensuring ongoing restrictions and monitoring to protect the community from further harm.