STEPHEN BANKS FROM LOCKLEAZE SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF YOUNG VICTIMS IN BRISTOL

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Lockleaze and the wider Bristol area, Stephen Banks, a 51-year-old man, was found guilty of heinous sexual offenses committed against two young girls he was entrusted to care for as a foster carer. The incidents came to light after a lengthy investigation and trial at Bristol Crown Court, revealing a pattern of abuse that spanned over a period of time.

Stephen Banks, who was known to many as a MOD worker and a foster carer, had previously been regarded as a positive influence on numerous children in his care. However, beneath this facade, he secretly preyed on vulnerable victims, exploiting their trust and their past trauma. The court heard that Banks targeted two girls, both under the age of 16, whom he had taken into his home in Lockleaze, Bristol, with the apparent intent of abusing them sexually.

During the trial, Banks denied all allegations, forcing the victims to testify against him and challenging the accusations in court. Despite his denial, the jury found him guilty of multiple charges. He was convicted of three counts of sexual assault involving one girl, including acts of touching and other inappropriate conduct, as well as showing her adult pornography. Additionally, he was found guilty of two sexual assaults against the second girl, along with possessing a video depicting the sexual abuse of a young child aged between three and four years old.

The court was told that Banks engaged in inappropriate physical contact with the victims. One girl was coerced into touching his private parts, and he also touched her intimately. Furthermore, he showed her adult pornography, an act that added to the severity of his crimes. The second girl was also subjected to inappropriate touching over her clothing, and Banks kept a photograph of her backside, which was deemed evidence of his predatory behavior. Police investigations uncovered a disturbing image of a young child being sexually abused, which Banks possessed on his devices.

In his sentencing, His Honour Judge Peter Blair QC described Banks’s actions as cowardly and deeply damaging. He sentenced Banks to 17 and a half years in prison, with an additional year on extended licence, emphasizing the gravity of his offenses. The judge also imposed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order to prevent Banks from re-offending in the future.

One of the victims provided a heartfelt statement, revealing how she struggled with feelings of unhappiness and rage from a young age, unaware that her trauma stemmed from the abuse she suffered at Banks’ hands. The court’s verdict underscores the importance of safeguarding vulnerable children and holding perpetrators accountable for their actions, especially those entrusted with their care in the community of Lockleaze and beyond.