STEPHEN HICKS FROM BIRMINGHAM SENTENCED FOR DECADES-LONG ABUSE OF YOUNG GIRL IN BIRMINGHAM AND COLCHEHILL
In a case that has spanned nearly four decades, Stephen Hicks, a man from Birmingham, has finally been brought to justice for the sexual abuse of a young girl.The disturbing series of offences began in the late 1970s and continued into the 1980s, with Hicks exploiting the trust placed in him by the victim’s own father to carry out his heinous acts.
Hicks, now aged 57, was first convicted in 1979 of indecently assaulting the girl, who was then only around eight or nine years old.
Despite his guilty plea and a court order to stay away from her, Hicks was allowed back into her home shortly after his conviction.
This breach of the court’s directive enabled him to continue his abuse, which included multiple indecent assaults at her residence, on the top deck of a bus, and at a multi-storey car park.
The victim, who has since come forward to police, revealed that she endured repeated assaults over a period of time.
She recounted that Hicks had made her perform sexual acts on him on at least two occasions—once on the bus and once at the car park—when he was in his late teens or early twenties.
Despite the severity of these allegations, Hicks initially denied the charges, maintaining his innocence during the early stages of the legal process.
It was only on the day of his trial at Warwick Crown Court that he finally admitted to the charges of indecent assault and indecency with a child.
In 2016, the victim summoned the courage to report her experiences to the police, leading to a renewed investigation.
Her testimony detailed the repeated nature of Hicks’s abuse, which she said occurred not only at her home but also in public places, including the bus and the car park.
Her account was corroborated by evidence presented during the trial, which ultimately resulted in Hicks’s conviction.
Judge Anthony Potter sentenced Hicks to three years in prison for the series of sexual offences.
During the sentencing, the judge acknowledged that while the current maximum sentence for such crimes is 14 years, at the time of Hicks’s initial offences, the maximum was only five years.
The judge expressed his disapproval of Hicks’s conduct, emphasizing that Hicks had committed these acts with full knowledge that he was violating the law and exploiting the trust of the victim’s family.
Judge Potter stated, “You would have known as a result of the way your previous conduct was dealt with that what you were doing was wrong.
I am quite satisfied you assaulted her secure in the knowledge that her father was allowing you access to his daughter, and that he would not interfere with what you wanted to do.
That meant that this child of ten was in an environment where there was no level of protection.” The judge further noted that Hicks had continued his abusive behavior despite being on probation for similar offences, and that the victim’s silence was influenced by her perception that her cries for help would be ignored.
He highlighted that Hicks’s pattern of offending extended beyond this case, as he had also served a 15-month sentence in 1985 for indecent assaults on another girl.
In addition to his prison sentence, Hicks was ordered to register as a sex offender for life, a measure intended to monitor his activities and prevent further harm.
Prosecutor David Jackson detailed that Hicks had appeared before magistrates in 1979, pleading guilty to the initial offences committed in Coleshill, Warwickshire, where both he and the victim resided at the time.
Despite the court’s directives, Hicks was soon allowed back into the girl’s home, which facilitated the continuation of his abuse.
The victim also revealed that her father, who was accused of abusing her but against whom no legal action was taken, was aware of Hicks’s misconduct but failed to intervene.
This lack of action contributed to her feeling that reporting the abuse would be futile.
Hicks’s history of offending, including his 1985 conviction, underscores a troubling pattern of predatory behavior that persisted over many years.
Hicks’s case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and accountability in protecting vulnerable children from exploitation and abuse, and highlights the long-lasting impact such crimes can have on victims.
