SEATON STERLING CHURCH MINISTER FROM STOKE NEWINGTON SENTENCED FOR CHILD RAPE

In a case that has shocked the local community, Seaton Sterling, a 68-year-old church minister from Stoke Newington, was handed an indefinite prison sentence after being convicted of multiple charges related to child sexual abuse. The incident, which spanned over six years, involved Sterling abusing his trusted position within the church and the community to repeatedly assault a young girl who was only 13 years old at the time.

According to court reports, Sterling exploited his role as a spiritual leader to manipulate and threaten his victim, warning her not to disclose the abuse. The assaults took place at his residence in Yorkshire, near Stoke Newington, where he committed these heinous acts. The young girl, who bravely testified in court, expressed her anguish, stating, “He has ruined my life,” highlighting the profound impact of the abuse on her well-being.

Judge Timothy Lamb, QC, presided over the case at Snaresbrook Crown Court and delivered a severe sentence, ordering Sterling to serve a minimum of seven and a half years before he could be considered for parole. The judge also imposed an indeterminate sentence for public protection, reflecting the gravity of the crimes committed.

Throughout the trial, Sterling maintained his innocence, denying all allegations. Despite his protests, he was convicted on seven counts of rape, with evidence showing that the abuse began in May 2000, when he first molested the girl in his bathroom, and continued with further assaults, including rape on the same day. The case has brought to light the dangers of abuse within trusted community figures and has prompted calls for vigilance and safeguarding measures to protect vulnerable individuals from similar predatory behavior.