STEPHEN BAIL'S HORRIFIC CRIMES IN FOLKESTONE: CHILD ABUSER SENTENCED TO 12 YEARS

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Folkestone, Stephen Bail, a 45-year-old man with a background as a computer expert, was sentenced to a total of 12 years in prison for a series of heinous crimes involving the sexual abuse of four young victims over a span of more than a decade.

Judge Warwick McKinnon delivered the sentence at Maidstone Crown Court, emphasizing the profound and lasting psychological damage inflicted upon the children. The judge stated, “The effect these acts have had upon the children in terms of psychological damage is incalculable,” highlighting the severity and systematic nature of Bail’s offenses.

Details of the case revealed that Bail, who resided on Cheriton Road in Folkestone, committed these disturbing acts against two girls and two boys, with the abuse stretching from when the victims were as young as four years old up to their mid-teens. The crimes only came to light after one of the girls confided in her mother about the abuse, prompting further disclosures from the other victims.

Prosecutor Andrew Espley outlined the disturbing pattern of systematic abuse, painting a picture of a man who exploited the innocence of his young victims over a period of 13 years. One of the boys, who was abused between the ages of eight and 13, told police, “I can barely find words to describe what I think of him. I didn’t tell anyone because I didn’t think they would believe me.” The young man also revealed struggles with substance abuse, including drugs and alcohol, but expressed hope for a better future.

One of the girls, who was subjected to Bail’s abuse from ages six to 12, recounted how the assaults initially involved routine touching of her chest. As she grew older, Bail’s behavior became more invasive, with him touching her more intimately and coercing her to touch him. She described her fear, saying, “I was too scared to tell anyone what was going on. He touched me hundreds of times.”

Another victim, a boy who was just four years old when Bail began abusing him, continued to suffer at Bail’s hands until he was 14. The second girl, abused between the ages of nine and 11, was also shown explicit images of Bail’s own private pictures, further demonstrating the manipulative and predatory nature of his actions.

When Bail was arrested in December of the previous year, he initially denied any inappropriate conduct. However, he later admitted to multiple charges, including seven counts of indecent assault on one boy, five on the other, and similar charges involving the girls. His admissions confirmed the systematic and routine abuse that had been inflicted upon his victims.

During the court proceedings, Bail’s defense lawyer, Louise Darcy, acknowledged the gravity of his actions, stating that Bail himself recognized the horror of his behavior and expressed feelings of revulsion. Despite this, the judge emphasized the seriousness of the offenses, which involved a pattern of exploitation and systematic abuse.

As part of his sentence, Bail was prohibited from working with children in any capacity and will remain on the sex offenders’ register for the rest of his life, ensuring ongoing monitoring and restrictions to protect the community from further harm.