SWANSEA PAEDOPHILE STEPHEN HINDLEY SENTENCED AFTER YEARS ON THE RUN

A man from Swansea, Stephen Hindley, has been sentenced to prison after admitting to committing nine sexual offences against a single victim, with the abuse beginning when the victim was only a child. The victim confided in a family member that Hindley, aged 58 at the time of sentencing, had carried out a series of sexual assaults spanning from when they were nine years old until they reached 22.

The allegations detailed incidents that took place across various locations in Swansea, including Mayhill, Plasmarl, and Manselton. These offences reportedly occurred over a period stretching from the mid-1990s to the mid-2000s, highlighting a prolonged pattern of abuse that persisted over many years.

Hindley failed to appear at a court hearing in May 2013, which led the judiciary to issue a warrant for his arrest. Despite efforts to locate him, he remained at large for several years, employing tactics such as changing his name in an attempt to evade law enforcement authorities. It was not until July 2024 that Hindley was finally apprehended in Llanelli, after an off-duty police officer observed him and recognized him as a wanted individual.

During the legal proceedings, Hindley admitted to the majority of the charges brought against him, accepting guilt for nine sexual offences. However, he contested two of the allegations, which involved acts of child sexual abuse and offences committed against an adult.

He was subsequently sentenced to twenty years in prison. In addition to his incarceration, Hindley will be registered as a sex offender for life and is subject to an indefinite restraining order that prohibits any contact with the victim. The sentence reflects the severity of his crimes and the ongoing risk he poses to the community.

Detective Chief Inspector Chris Evans commented on the case, stating, “Stephen Hindley is a man who committed horrendous crimes against his victim, from a small child into adulthood. His offences spanned over a decade, and he then spent a similar amount of time trying to evade justice by changing his identity. Fortunately, law enforcement eventually caught up with him.”

He added, “If the terrible ordeal the victim endured during their childhood wasn’t enough, the prolonged wait for justice would have been incredibly painful. We are very pleased that Hindley is now back in custody and beginning a lengthy prison term. We hope that his brave victim can now start to heal and feel safer knowing that Hindley is no longer on the run.”

If anyone has been affected by the actions of individuals mentioned in this report, they are encouraged to contact the police at 101, or 999 in emergencies. Resources are available online for reporting crimes, and individuals can also choose to report anonymously through Crimestoppers. Support services are accessible via the provided links to help those impacted by such crimes.