RICHARD STEAN FELIXSTOWE SEX OFFENDER JAILED FOR BREACHES AND ASSAULTS

In a case that highlights ongoing concerns about sexual offences and breaches of court orders, Richard Stean, a 32-year-old man from Felixstowe, has been sentenced to 21 months in prison after admitting to multiple breaches of a sexual offences prevention order and engaging in inappropriate conduct involving minors.

Stean’s criminal history is extensive, with a previous conviction in 2009 for a sexual assault on a 10-year-old girl, which resulted in a 12-month jail term. Despite this, he continued to breach court-imposed restrictions designed to protect children. The court heard that in 2011, he violated the order by making contact with a 13-year-old girl, further demonstrating a pattern of disregard for legal boundaries.

In September of the previous year, Stean was seen in Felixstowe with a 15-year-old boy. During this encounter, he allowed the boy to use his mobile phone to contact his 13-year-old girlfriend, an act that directly contravened the restrictions placed upon him. The police investigation was triggered when Stean was arrested in January, at which point they seized his mobile phone and uncovered incriminating text messages. Prosecutor Charles Kellett revealed that these messages included invitations from Stean to a 15-year-old girl from Peterborough, inviting her to join him for a “good time,” which further underscored his ongoing inappropriate behavior.

Stean, who resides on Leopold Road in Felixstowe, pleaded guilty to three breaches of his sexual offences prevention order. The court was informed that he had previously been sentenced for a sexual assault on a young girl and had continued to breach court orders by attempting to contact minors. The sentencing judge, Recorder Christopher Morgan, emphasized the seriousness of Stean’s actions, noting his prior convictions and breaches. Morgan pointed out that Stean’s history included convictions for indecent exposure and indecent assault dating back to 1998 and 1999, with additional offences in 2004 involving approaching young girls and causing alarm.

During the hearing, the court was told that Stean had been due to participate in the Thames Valley Sex Offenders’ Treatment Programme, indicating an awareness of his issues and a potential path to rehabilitation. However, his recent conduct demonstrated a continued risk to the community, leading to his imprisonment.

In a related case from October 2009, Stean was convicted of sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl in Kesgrave, near Ipswich. He had entered a den near Pilboroughs Walk where the girl was playing, pulled down her trousers, and assaulted her. The court heard that Stean had previously been convicted of similar offences, including indecent exposure and assault, and had a history of troubling behaviour towards children. The judge, Judge John Holt, sentenced him to 12 months in prison, ordered him to sign the sex offenders register, and imposed a ten-year ban on working with children.

Stean’s case underscores the importance of vigilant enforcement of court orders and the ongoing challenges faced by authorities in managing individuals with a history of sexual offences. His repeated breaches and continued inappropriate conduct serve as a stark reminder of the risks posed by repeat offenders in communities like Felixstowe and Kesgrave.