STEPHEN HARDING OF SALE JAILED FOR SEXUAL ABUSE AT GWYNEDD HOLIDAY PARK

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the community, Stephen Harding, a 59-year-old man from Sale, Cheshire, has been sentenced to four years in prison for serious sexual offenses committed against two young boys at a holiday park in Gwynedd. The incident, which spanned several years, involved Harding engaging in indecent assaults on the victims, both of whom were children at the time of the abuse.

Harding, who resides on Northenden Road in Sale, denied all charges brought against him. The allegations covered a period from November 1995 to October 2001, during which the two boys were subjected to his predatory behavior. Despite his denials, a jury at Caernarfon Crown Court found Harding guilty after a three-day trial, concluding that the evidence presented was compelling and credible.

One of the victims, now in his early 30s, testified that he had endured years of depression following the assaults. He revealed that he had even attempted to take his own life at one point, illustrating the profound and lasting impact of Harding’s actions. The second victim described the abuse as having a “massive effect” on his life and expressed deep regret that the incidents had ever occurred. Both victims shared their pain and the long-term trauma inflicted upon them during the court proceedings.

During sentencing, Judge Huw Rees described Harding’s sexual predatory tendencies as “unhealthy” and “predatory,” emphasizing the severity of his misconduct. The judge further stated that the effects of Harding’s actions are “profound, entrenched and possibly everlasting,” underscoring the lasting damage caused to the victims.

The court heard that Harding owned a chalet at the holiday site near Pwllheli, where he would spend holidays with his family. One of the victims, who is now in his early 30s, recounted that his family also visited the same site. He claimed to have been abused approximately five times when he was around 12 or 13 years old, specifically in Harding’s chalet. The victim revealed that he only confided in his mother about the abuse in August 2015, after years of feeling unable to disclose the trauma out of fear of upsetting his family. He explained that he had wanted to tell her for several years but felt constrained by his fears.

Following the revelations, Harding was arrested and taken in for questioning. During the interview, he admitted owning a caravan at the site and acknowledged knowing the victim’s family but denied any wrongdoing. The police investigation uncovered that another allegation of abuse had been made against Harding in 2007 by the second victim, who was about 12 years old at the time. This second victim claimed Harding had indecently assaulted him in a caravan on the same holiday site. Harding was questioned about this allegation as well, denying any involvement, and the case was closed at that stage without further action.

Importantly, the jury was informed that neither of the victims was aware of the other’s allegations, and both testified that Harding appeared to act normally after the incidents, as if nothing had happened. Harding himself denied all accusations during his trial, asserting that the allegations were “a complete fabrication.”

In addition to his prison sentence, the court imposed an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order on Harding. This order prohibits him from making any contact, by any means, with the two victims, aiming to protect them from further harm and to prevent any potential reoffending. The case highlights the devastating impact of childhood sexual abuse and the importance of justice for victims, as Harding begins his sentence in the wake of these serious allegations.