PETERBOROUGH MAN STEPHEN HASDELL SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF GIRL AT WATERGALL IN BRETTON
In a case that has shocked the community of Peterborough, Stephen Hasdell, a 43-year-old resident of Watergall in the Bretton area, has been convicted of sexually abusing a young girl during his teenage years.The incident, which dates back to the 1980s, came to light after allegations were made against him in October 2016, leading to his arrest and subsequent legal proceedings.
The victim, who was only seven years old at the time of the abuse, provided a detailed account to the police, describing how Hasdell would force her to engage in sexual activities.
She explained that her actions were driven by fear, believing that she would face punishment or get into trouble if she refused to comply with his demands.
The trauma inflicted on her at such a tender age has had a lasting impact on her life, as acknowledged by law enforcement officials.
At the time of the offences, Hasdell was approximately 14 or 15 years old.
Despite denying the allegations, he was found guilty of one count of indecent assault on a girl under the age of 14 after a trial held at Cambridge Crown Court in March.
The court's decision led to a sentencing that included a 12-month community order, requiring him to complete 100 hours of unpaid work.
Additionally, Hasdell was subjected to a five-year restraining order, prohibiting any contact with the victim, and was placed on the Sex Offenders Register for a period of five years.
DC Rachael Ryan, who was involved in the case, expressed her thoughts on the impact of the crime, stating, “This offence has had a huge impact on the victim throughout her life.
Both the victim and her family have shown great courage and dignity throughout the whole process, and I hope she is now able to find some closure from this traumatic period in her life.”
