SHAUN HARRAD FROM LAINDON SENTENCED FOR PERSISTENT RAPE AND STALKING IN SUSSEX

In December 2016, a man from Laindon named Shaun Harrad was handed a lengthy prison sentence following a series of heinous crimes involving rape, stalking, and the distribution of indecent images. The case was heard at Hove Crown Court, where Harrad, aged 55 and unemployed, was found guilty after a rigorous two-week trial of multiple serious offenses.

Harrad’s criminal activities centered around a young female victim, now 20 years old, whom he initially targeted when she was just 13. Using social media platform Facebook, he assumed the false identity of a 21-year-old man named ‘Paul’ to initiate contact. What appeared to be innocent online chatting soon turned sinister as Harrad manipulated the young girl, gradually gaining her trust and convincing her to send increasingly explicit images of herself.

His predatory behavior extended beyond just the victim. Harrad also created a fake profile pretending to be a young girl, and through this deception, he persuaded the victim’s younger brother to send indecent images of himself. Harrad then shared these images with the victim and issued threats to distribute them among her friends and family unless she maintained contact with him. The victim was coerced into continuing the relationship out of fear for her family’s safety, as Harrad threatened to reveal the images to her loved ones.

Over the course of their interactions, Harrad also sent explicit photos to her parents and issued threats against them, extending his intimidation tactics over several years. As the victim reached the age of 18, Harrad revealed his true identity and arranged to meet her in person. These meetings, which took place in various hotels across Sussex, involved sexual activity, including rape. Harrad’s control over her was reinforced by threats and conditions he imposed, with the victim feeling trapped and frightened. Harrad’s threats included promises to harm her family and to destroy her reputation if she disobeyed or tried to escape.

The victim’s ordeal culminated in a violent incident in June 2016, at her Brighton residence, where she was raped and physically assaulted, resulting in actual bodily harm. This assault prompted her to finally report the crimes to the police in Brighton. The same day she reported the incident, Harrad was arrested in Essex, where he was subsequently charged and remanded in custody.

Following the legal proceedings, Harrad was sentenced to 15 years in prison. He will not be eligible for parole until he has served at least two-thirds of his sentence. Additionally, he will be registered as a sex offender for life and was subjected to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), which severely restricts his access to computers and online platforms. The court’s sentencing judge, David Rennie, described Harrad as embodying every nightmare scenario for a child or young person, emphasizing how easily online identities can be fabricated to lure vulnerable individuals. Judge Rennie also highlighted Harrad’s intimidation tactics, including threats of violence such as throwing acid in the victim’s face, which underscored the severity of his crimes.