STEPHEN MARSDEN SENTENCED IN HULL FOR CHILD SEX ABUSE - 11.5 YEARS IN PRISON
In October 2016, a man named Stephen Marsden, aged 55, was handed a lengthy prison sentence after being convicted of multiple sexual offences committed against a young boy in Hull.The court heard that Marsden had repeatedly engaged in sexual abuse over a period of years, leaving his young victim with what was described as 'exceptional scars' both physically and emotionally.
During the proceedings at Hull Crown Court, Marsden admitted to a series of historical sexual offences, including seven counts of sexual abuse against the same boy.
The abuse was so severe that the victim often tried to feign illness in an attempt to avoid encounters with Marsden, indicating the level of distress and fear inflicted upon him.
The trauma from these experiences has led the victim to suffer from suicidal thoughts, highlighting the profound impact of the abuse.
The revelations of these past offences emerged earlier in the year, prompting the court to revisit the case.
Marsden, who was already incarcerated, faced additional charges, and he pleaded guilty to all seven sexual offences.
These offences are now classified under recent legal guidelines as 'rape of a child,' reflecting the gravity of his actions.
In sentencing, Judge Richardson took into account both the historical nature of the offences and the new legal standards.
He also considered Marsden’s early guilty pleas, his willingness to participate in rehabilitation efforts, and his documented severe mental deficiencies.
It was revealed during the proceedings that Marsden’s reading and writing abilities were comparable to those of a nine or ten-year-old, which the judge acknowledged as a mitigating factor.
Judge Richardson emphasized the seriousness of the case, stating, 'You entered a timely plea of guilty at the first reasonable opportunity.
I accept also that you operate at a low intellectual level and your intellectual faculties are diminished.
This is however a serious case where your victim was a child and as an adult, you caused substantial harm.
It was a breach of trust and it was an alarming level of abuse for several years.' As a result, Marsden was sentenced to an additional two and a half years for indecent assault charges, which will run consecutively to the nine-year sentence for the rape offences.
Furthermore, he will remain on the sex offender’s register for the rest of his life, ensuring ongoing monitoring and restrictions related to his conduct.
