STEPHEN CHERRY FROM LINCOLNSHIRE SENTENCED TO ADDITIONAL 16 MONTHS FOR SEXUAL OFFENSES IN GRANTHAM
A convicted sex offender from Grantham, Lincolnshire, has been sentenced to an additional 16 months in prison following new charges.Stephen Cherry, aged 50 and formerly residing on Shanklin Drive in Grantham, is already serving a substantial prison sentence of ten and a half years after being found guilty earlier this year of multiple sexual offences involving a young girl.
Cherry appeared before Lincoln Crown Court in October, where he pleaded guilty to two further counts of sexual assault involving a second adult victim.
The court proceedings revealed that these new charges add to the already serious criminal record Cherry has accumulated.
Judge James House KC presided over the case and ordered that the new 16-month sentence be served consecutively, meaning immediately after the completion of his current incarceration.
In addition to the custodial sentence, the court imposed a restraining order that explicitly prohibits Cherry from making any contact with the victims involved or from visiting their addresses.
This legal measure aims to prevent any further harm or intimidation.
Earlier in the year, Cherry was convicted of a total of 11 offences, which included sexually assaulting a child under the age of 13, engaging in sexual activity with a minor, and one charge of oral rape.
The victim, who was under 13 at the time, came forward in 2022 after being influenced by a television program that addressed sexual abuse and after receiving sex education at school.
She reported that Cherry had coerced her into performing sexual acts, describing her experience as Cherry making her do things against her will.
Her account was supported by interviews conducted by specially trained police officers trained to handle such sensitive cases.
Following his conviction, Cherry was classified as a dangerous offender, and Judge House ordered that he serve an extended period of 12 months on licence after his release from prison.
This additional supervision is intended to monitor his behavior and prevent any potential reoffending, reflecting the severity of his crimes and the court’s concern for public safety.
