STEPHEN HUNT AND SHOCKING CHILD ABUSE IN MANCHESTER
A man named Stephen Hunt, aged 44, has been finally held accountable for a disturbing sexual assault that occurred over two decades ago.The incident involved Hunt indecently assaulting a young girl while he was entrusted with babysitting her, a court was told.
Hunt, who resides at St Gabriel's Mews in Middleton Junction, Manchester, received a sentence of two and a half years in prison at Bolton Crown Court last Thursday.
Additionally, he was permanently prohibited from working with children.
The courtroom was filled with emotional reactions as members of the public gallery shouted 'scum' as Hunt, an aircraft engineer by profession, was escorted out to serve his sentence.
The judge presiding over the case, William Morris, delivered a stern judgment, stating, "You have forced yourself upon this girl and subjected her to a terrible ordeal.
You have abused the trust placed in you by her parents when they left her in your care." Judge Morris emphasized the lasting impact of Hunt’s actions, noting that the girl, now in her mid-20s, had been deeply affected by the abuse, suffering significant psychological trauma.
The judge underscored the seriousness of the crime, asserting that it warranted a substantial custodial sentence.
The court was informed that the assault took place in 1988.
However, the victim, who cannot be identified due to legal restrictions, was too frightened to report the incident to authorities until the previous year.
Prosecutor Iain Simkin explained, "This attack caused distress to the victim and has had a lasting effect on her confidence and her ability to form close relationships with others ever since." Hunt had previously pleaded guilty to the charge of indecent assault during a prior hearing.
A pre-sentencing report, which was presented to the court last week, included letters from Hunt’s son and girlfriend.
These letters described him as a caring individual with a good character.
During the mitigation phase, defense lawyer Peter Cunliffe acknowledged the gravity of the case but highlighted Hunt’s positive attributes, including his consistent employment record and his role as a provider for his family, especially his young daughter.
Cunliffe pointed out the character references submitted on Hunt’s behalf, suggesting that he was a responsible and caring person.
The court also revealed that Hunt had a previous conviction for indecently assaulting a woman in a taxi in 1996, for which he served four months in jail.
This history added context to the current case, illustrating a pattern of concerning behavior.
Overall, the court’s decision reflects the severity of Hunt’s crimes and the lasting harm caused to his victims, reaffirming the justice system’s stance on protecting vulnerable individuals from sexual abuse.
