STEPHEN BELL GATESHEAD SEX OFFENDER STILL EMPLOYED DESPITE GUILTY VERDICT
In a case that has sparked outrage and concern within the community, Stephen Bell, a resident of Gateshead, was convicted of sexually assaulting a teenage colleague, Tina, at Newcastle Crown Court.The incident occurred on March 4, and despite the severity of the crime, Bell remains employed by the same company, raising questions about workplace policies and the handling of such cases.
Bell, aged 34 and residing in Humber Gardens, Gateshead, was sentenced to 240 hours of community service and ordered to pay £500 in compensation to Tina.
Additionally, he was mandated to register as a sex offender for a period of five years.
These legal measures were part of the court's judgment following his guilty verdict, which confirmed his involvement in the indecent assault.
However, the aftermath of the conviction has revealed a troubling situation.
Tina, who was only 16 at the time of the assault, has publicly spoken out, choosing to waive her right to anonymity to share her distress and the impact the incident has had on her life.
She recounted the events, stating, "I had just finished cleaning the bathrooms at South Gosforth Station when I heard Stephen say 'Hold on.' Then he came into the toilets after me, and we were alone.
That’s when it happened.
I tried to push him away but couldn’t, and no one else was around.
After a few minutes, I managed to open the door and run out." Tina further described her emotional turmoil, revealing that she did not tell anyone immediately but eventually confided in her sister, who urged her to speak to her mother.
Her mother then contacted the police, initiating the legal process that led to Bell’s conviction.
Despite the court’s ruling, Bell continues to work as a supervisor at Executive Cleaning, a company contracted to clean the Metro system.
Tina, who still works for the same company, expressed her frustration and heartbreak over the situation.
Her mother stated, "It has ripped our family apart.
But now the company claims they can’t do anything about him and seem to be supporting him, even though he has been found guilty.
It’s not right that he still has his job.
He has to sign the sex offenders register.
The company handbook states that anyone who commits gross misconduct should be dismissed.
So why is he still there?" Tina has been suffering from depression and stress since the incident, and her recovery has been slow.
She shared her feelings about returning to work, saying, "When it first happened, he was suspended for a month, but now he is suspended on full pay and still sometimes works as a supervisor.
There was an internal investigation, but nothing changed.
It was horrible to go back and see him still there.
He would be on my Metro train at the end of the day.
I asked the company what they would do, and they said they couldn’t until he appealed.
Everyone at work was talking about me behind my back, and it was horrible." Executive Cleaning confirmed that Stephen Bell is employed by them but declined to comment further on the matter.
A spokesperson from Nexus stated, "He is no longer working on the Metro system." Bell is scheduled to be sentenced on November 28 at Newcastle Crown Court, where further legal actions and decisions are expected to be made regarding his employment and the implications of his conviction.
