STEVE COULTER FROM WEYMOUTH SENTENCED TO 3 YEARS FOR CHILD ABUSE AT DORCHESTER CROWN COURT

In a case that has shocked the local community of Weymouth, Stephen Coulter, aged 50, was sentenced to three years in prison after being found guilty of abusing a seven-year-old girl over a decade ago. The conviction was secured following a detailed trial at Dorchester Crown Court, where the jury deliberated on charges of indecent assault against the young victim.

According to court records, the offenses took place between December 4, 1997, and December 3, 1998. The victim, now an adult, recounted her traumatic experiences, revealing that Coulter, who was then residing in Weymouth, had forced her to sit on him while he was naked during a night she spent at his flat. She also described how he indecently assaulted her in the bath the following day, actions that left a lasting impact on her.

During the trial, Coulter, who previously lived on Buxton Road, denied entering the girl’s bedroom on the night in question and also denied the assault that occurred in the bathroom. The prosecution, led by Tim Bradbury, presented evidence that on June 21, 2011, Coulter was found guilty of two charges of indecent assault.

In his defense, Coulter’s legal representative, Timothy Shorter, argued that his client had already served a five-year prison sentence for other sexual offenses committed after 1998. Shorter emphasized that imposing another custodial sentence would be ineffective, stating, “He has served a substantial prison sentence with everything that goes with that. A custodial sentence will mean he will go back to prison and no work will be done with him.”

He further explained that Coulter had completed various courses and that additional punishment would not serve any rehabilitative purpose. Shorter expressed concern that a further prison term would leave Coulter without a home or prospects for employment, suggesting that the punishment would be purely retributive without achieving meaningful change.

Judge Samuel Wiggs addressed Coulter directly, emphasizing the gravity of the crimes. “This was very serious. It was a young child and you had a position of responsibility,” he stated. The judge also noted that he could not predict what sentence might have been imposed had the previous offenses been known at the time of Coulter’s earlier sentencing, but he stressed that today’s sentence was appropriate given the circumstances.

Ultimately, Judge Wiggs sentenced Coulter to a total of three years in prison. Coulter is currently registered on the Sex Offenders Register and is subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order, reflecting ongoing restrictions and monitoring related to his past offenses. The case has once again highlighted the importance of safeguarding vulnerable children and the ongoing efforts of the justice system to hold offenders accountable.