PRENTON PAEDOPHILE STEPHEN LEWIS SENTENCED FOR DECADES OF ABUSE IN LIVERPOOL

In April 2021, a disturbing case emerged involving Stephen Lewis, a man from Prenton, who was found guilty of heinous acts of child abuse committed against two young girls. The horrifying details of his crimes reveal a pattern of manipulation and exploitation that spanned over four decades, leaving lasting scars on his victims.

Lewis, who resided on Woodchurch Road in Prenton, systematically preyed on two vulnerable girls, warning one of them with a chilling "don’t tell anyone" before subjecting her to sexual abuse. The abuse was so severe that one of the victims was forced to perform sexual acts on him, a trauma that she carried silently for years. The victims, overwhelmed by their suffering, eventually reached out for help by writing to Jackie magazine, seeking advice and support.

However, their pleas for help were tragically dismissed. When one of the girls’ parents discovered the letter, they confronted their children, who then revealed that they had been victims of Lewis’s abuse. Despite this revelation, the adults involved accused the girls of lying, and the abuse was not reported to authorities at the time. This neglect allowed Lewis to continue his predatory behavior unnoticed for many years.

It was only in February 2019 that the abuse came to light during a police call, when one of the victims disclosed the horrific details of her ordeal. Prosecutor David Watson explained that as a child, she was repeatedly forced to perform sexual acts on Lewis, who had warned her with threats of silence. Fear prevented her from speaking out earlier, but the discovery that her friend had also been abused prompted the girls to act together. They wrote to Jackie magazine, exposing the abuse, which eventually led to police involvement.

Following this, authorities uncovered the extent of Lewis’s crimes. The victims’ parents found the letter and confronted their children, who confirmed they had been abused. Unfortunately, the initial response from the adults was dismissive, with both girls being accused of lying, and no immediate action was taken to protect them or investigate the allegations.

One of the victims, in a statement read aloud in court, shared the profound impact of her trauma. She revealed that she had attempted to take her own life due to the emotional scars inflicted by Lewis. She described how the abuse affected every facet of her adult life, leading to depression, panic attacks, and a deep sense of shame. She expressed her ongoing struggle with self-identity and her heartbreak upon realizing she was subjected to abuse at the same age as her own daughter.

The second victim also spoke about her suffering, questioning why she was targeted and describing feelings of dirtiness and shame. She recounted dressing plainly and feeling contaminated by Lewis’s actions, which left her with a lasting sense of humiliation.

Lewis, now 59 years old, pleaded guilty to six counts of indecent assault and two counts of indecency with a child. The court heard that his actions had caused significant psychological damage to his victims. Judge Recorder Ian Unsworth, QC, addressed Lewis directly, stating, "For the best part of over four decades, you had been living a lie." He condemned Lewis’s predatory behavior, emphasizing that his abuse was driven by selfish and deviant instincts.

The judge highlighted the severe impact on the victims, noting that one had even attempted suicide because of Lewis’s actions. He described how the abuse had overshadowed their entire lives, leaving them questioning their worth and future prospects. The court acknowledged that the sentencing powers at the time of the offenses were more limited, and the actual sentences now available reflect a more serious stance against such crimes.

Lewis was sentenced to four years in prison, and a restraining order was issued to prevent him from contacting his victims. The court’s decision underscores the gravity of his offenses and the profound harm inflicted on the victims, who have endured decades of suffering in silence. The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of early intervention and the need to believe and support victims of abuse, regardless of how much time has passed.