STEPHEN HOSKIN JAILED FOR SEXUAL ABUSE AT BURREATOR RESERVOIR IN PLYMOUTH
In a case that has spanned over two decades, a man from Plymouth has been sentenced to prison for serious sexual offenses committed against a young girl at Burrator Reservoir.The individual, identified as Stephen Hoskin, aged 52 and residing on Saltburn Road in Plymouth, was convicted of multiple charges related to an incident that occurred in 1997, when he was in his mid to late twenties.
Hoskin initially faced four charges stemming from the alleged abuse, which took place sometime between January and June of that year.
The charges included rape of a girl under the age of 16, two counts of indecent assault, and one count of committing an act of gross indecency with a child.
Hoskin maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings, denying all allegations.
In March of this year, during a trial held at Plymouth Crown Court, the jury found Hoskin guilty of two of the charges: one count of indecent assault and one count of inciting a child to commit an act of gross indecency.
The court acquitted him of the rape charge.
The victim, who was under 16 at the time of the abuse, was the sole complainant in the case.
The court heard that the abuse occurred at Burrator Reservoir, a popular outdoor location in the Plymouth area.
The case gained renewed attention after the victim, now an adult, contacted Devon and Cornwall Police in 2020.
She sought to understand why the case had been initially closed without charges, prompting a review of the investigation.
Advances in investigative techniques and a fresh approach to cold cases led to the reopening of the case and subsequent charges against Hoskin.
During sentencing, Judge Peter Johnson described the gravity of Hoskin’s actions.
He sentenced Hoskin to eight years in prison for the indecent assault and an additional two years for gross indecency, with both sentences to run concurrently.
The judge also informed Hoskin that he would serve half of his sentence in custody, with the remaining half on licence.
However, he issued a stern warning that any breach of the licence conditions would result in Hoskin being returned to prison.
This case highlights the importance of perseverance in seeking justice, even many years after the alleged crimes, and underscores the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to bring offenders to account regardless of the passage of time.
