PAUL STEELE FROM BELPER AND READING SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX ABUSE IN DERBY
| Red Rose Database
Reading Belper Rapist
In a deeply distressing case that has shocked the communities of Belper and Reading, a man named Paul Steele has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for a series of heinous crimes involving a young girl. The victim, who is now a teenager, bravely shared her harrowing story, revealing that she endured seven years of sexual abuse at the hands of Steele, beginning when she was just eight years old and culminating in her being raped at the age of 11.
Her ordeal was marked by a pattern of manipulation, threats, and violence. She recounted that when she first realized that what was happening was wrong, she attempted to resist, but Steele responded with physical violence and intimidation, making her feel helpless and terrified. The abuse only came to an end when she finally summoned the courage to confide in her mother, a moment that marked a turning point in her life.
The teenager attended Derby Crown Court to witness Steele's sentencing, but she found it too painful to look directly at him as he sat in the dock. Her words reflected the profound impact of his actions, stating, “He’s changed my whole life. No length of sentence given to him will satisfy me.” She also issued a heartfelt plea to other children who might be suffering in silence, urging them to speak out. “You shouldn’t keep it bottled up and there is hope that you can move on,” she emphasized.
During the court proceedings, it was revealed that Steele had voluntarily surrendered himself to the police after learning that the girl had disclosed her abuse to her mother. Steele, who was formerly residing in Belper and later moved to Reading, admitted to multiple charges, including three counts of indecent assault, two counts of sexual activity with a child, and one count of rape. The victim had kept her suffering secret for years, only revealing the truth last year to her best friend and subsequently to her mother on Boxing Day.
Prosecutor Mark Achurch explained that Steele had threatened the girl, warning her that if she told anyone, he would harm her. These threats, combined with the physical violence she endured, made her feel that her fears were justified. As she grew older, her attempts to stand up to Steele resulted in further violence, with him hitting her when she did so.
In an interview with the Derby Telegraph, the girl described her emotional struggles, saying, “I just bottled it up. It made me feel very lonely and I had very low self-confidence. I used to put it to the back of my mind, apart from when I went to bed. Some nights, I used to cry myself to sleep. I turned to comfort-eating and it’s only now that I’m starting to kick that habit. It’s affected my relationships and I find it hard to trust men.” She also expressed confusion and pain over why Steele had committed these acts, admitting she had no answers and that she experiences fluctuating moods, with high and low days.
Steele’s defense lawyer, Roger Wilson, told the court that Steele had turned himself in and expressed remorse, stating, “He feels absolutely disgusted with himself. He cannot believe what he has done.”
As part of his sentence, Steele was prohibited from working with children and was ordered to register as a sex offender for life, ensuring he remains under supervision and scrutiny. The case has left a lasting scar on the community, highlighting the importance of vigilance and the need for children to be supported and protected from such predatory behavior.
Her ordeal was marked by a pattern of manipulation, threats, and violence. She recounted that when she first realized that what was happening was wrong, she attempted to resist, but Steele responded with physical violence and intimidation, making her feel helpless and terrified. The abuse only came to an end when she finally summoned the courage to confide in her mother, a moment that marked a turning point in her life.
The teenager attended Derby Crown Court to witness Steele's sentencing, but she found it too painful to look directly at him as he sat in the dock. Her words reflected the profound impact of his actions, stating, “He’s changed my whole life. No length of sentence given to him will satisfy me.” She also issued a heartfelt plea to other children who might be suffering in silence, urging them to speak out. “You shouldn’t keep it bottled up and there is hope that you can move on,” she emphasized.
During the court proceedings, it was revealed that Steele had voluntarily surrendered himself to the police after learning that the girl had disclosed her abuse to her mother. Steele, who was formerly residing in Belper and later moved to Reading, admitted to multiple charges, including three counts of indecent assault, two counts of sexual activity with a child, and one count of rape. The victim had kept her suffering secret for years, only revealing the truth last year to her best friend and subsequently to her mother on Boxing Day.
Prosecutor Mark Achurch explained that Steele had threatened the girl, warning her that if she told anyone, he would harm her. These threats, combined with the physical violence she endured, made her feel that her fears were justified. As she grew older, her attempts to stand up to Steele resulted in further violence, with him hitting her when she did so.
In an interview with the Derby Telegraph, the girl described her emotional struggles, saying, “I just bottled it up. It made me feel very lonely and I had very low self-confidence. I used to put it to the back of my mind, apart from when I went to bed. Some nights, I used to cry myself to sleep. I turned to comfort-eating and it’s only now that I’m starting to kick that habit. It’s affected my relationships and I find it hard to trust men.” She also expressed confusion and pain over why Steele had committed these acts, admitting she had no answers and that she experiences fluctuating moods, with high and low days.
Steele’s defense lawyer, Roger Wilson, told the court that Steele had turned himself in and expressed remorse, stating, “He feels absolutely disgusted with himself. He cannot believe what he has done.”
As part of his sentence, Steele was prohibited from working with children and was ordered to register as a sex offender for life, ensuring he remains under supervision and scrutiny. The case has left a lasting scar on the community, highlighting the importance of vigilance and the need for children to be supported and protected from such predatory behavior.