STEPHEN BOLTON FROM BUNGAY AND LOWESTOFT JAILED FOR SEX OFFENCES INVOLVING YOUNG GIRLS

In a case that has shocked the communities of Bungay and Lowestoft, Suffolk, Stephen Bolton has been sentenced to a significant prison term after being found guilty of multiple serious sexual offences involving underage girls. The court proceedings revealed a disturbing pattern of misconduct spanning over a decade, with Bolton, now aged 36, having committed offences in both 2001 and 2010.

According to court records, Bolton, who was in his early twenties at the time, engaged in a sexual relationship with a 12-year-old girl in 2001. The details of this relationship emerged during the trial, with evidence indicating that Bolton had invited the young girl to his flat located in Albion Road, Bungay. Between April and June of that year, he kissed and touched her intimately on three separate occasions. The court heard that Bolton's actions left the young girl impressionable, dazzled, and flattered by the attention he paid her, which added a layer of concern about the manipulation involved.

Fast forward to 2010, Bolton was in his thirties when he engaged in further inappropriate conduct involving a 13-year-old girl. The court was told that Bolton had met this girl at a barbecue in Lowestoft and had subsequently communicated with her through Facebook. Their online exchanges led to two face-to-face meetings, during which they kissed and cuddled. When questioned about his contact with her, Bolton claimed that he had flirted with her on Facebook and had “forgotten who he was talking to,” suggesting a degree of recklessness or denial about the nature of their relationship. During one of the meetings, Bolton reportedly told the girl, “This can’t be happening. I shouldn’t be doing this,” indicating some awareness of the impropriety of his actions.

Bolton was charged and stood trial, where he admitted to two offences of sexual activity with a child in 2010. However, he was found guilty of two counts of indecency with a child and two counts of indecent assault relating to the incidents from 2001. Notably, the prosecution offered no evidence to support a charge of sexual intercourse with a girl under 13, leading to Bolton’s acquittal on that particular count.

During sentencing, Judge David Goodin emphasized the severity of Bolton’s crimes. He described the first victim, who was only 12 at the time, as being “impressed, dazzled and flattered” by Bolton’s attention, which underscores the manipulative nature of his misconduct. The judge sentenced Bolton to four years in prison and ordered him to sign the sex offenders’ register indefinitely. Additionally, Bolton was placed under a sexual offences prevention order, which restricts his future contact with girls under the age of 16, except for his own daughters.

In mitigation, defense representative Andrew Thompson argued that Bolton maintained his innocence regarding the 2001 offences. He pointed out that Bolton had not threatened the girl and that there had been no similar offences for nine years until the 2010 incidents. Thompson also highlighted Bolton’s uncertainty about the age of the 13-year-old girl, claiming that Bolton did not realize she was under 16 at the time, although he accepted that he knew she was under that age. Bolton expressed remorse for his actions involving the 13-year-old girl, but the court’s view was that the offences were grave and warranted a strong custodial response to protect the community and deter similar conduct in the future.