STEPHEN PERRIN FROM RHYL SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL OFFENSES INVOLVING SCHOOLGIRL IN LORRY

In January 2007, a serious case involving a man from Rhyl who engaged in sexual activities with a 15-year-old schoolgirl was brought before Mold Crown Court. The individual, identified as Stephen John Perrin, aged 39, was found guilty of multiple charges related to the assault and was subsequently sentenced to an indefinite term of imprisonment, marking him as a dangerous offender.

During the court proceedings, it was revealed that Perrin had a prior criminal history, including a four-year prison sentence for rape that he served in 1993. This previous conviction was brought into focus as the court considered the severity of his current offenses. Judge David Hale explained that, under normal circumstances, Perrin would have faced a sentence of approximately six years after a trial. However, given the nature of the case and Perrin’s history, the judge decided to impose an indeterminate sentence under the dangerous offender provisions, which means Perrin would not have a fixed release date.

Judge Hale clarified that Perrin would be eligible to apply for parole after serving 33 months, but his release would ultimately depend on the parole board’s assessment of whether he posed a risk to the public. The judge emphasized that Perrin would remain detained until the authorities deemed him safe to re-enter society.

At the time of the incident, Perrin resided on Ellis Avenue in Rhyl. Initially, he denied the charges of sexual penetration and sexual touching of a minor. However, on the day of the trial, he changed his pleas to guilty, acknowledging his involvement in the offenses. The court heard that Perrin had taken advantage of the girl’s vulnerable state; she was described as being unsettled, sexually active, and in a fragile position. The offenses occurred while she was in Perrin’s lorry, where he had asked her to sit beside him before committing the acts.

As part of his sentence, Perrin was ordered to register as a sex offender for life and was prohibited from working with children in any capacity. The prosecution, led by Gareth Roberts, detailed how the crimes took place inside Perrin’s vehicle. The girl’s family later discovered evidence of the assault when they noticed love bites on her and she confided in her sister about what had happened.

During police interviews, Perrin denied any wrongdoing, claiming that nothing had occurred. However, forensic evidence linked him conclusively to the offenses, leaving no doubt about his involvement.

In his defense, barrister Kim Whittlestone argued that the previous rape conviction was under very different circumstances and that the current case did not involve violence or force. She pointed out that the girl was not groomed and had been a willing participant, suggesting that Perrin had simply taken advantage of a situation where he had been drinking. Whittlestone emphasized that Perrin was willing to undertake any rehabilitative courses offered by the probation service and urged the court not to classify him as a predatory sex offender.

Ultimately, the court’s decision reflected the seriousness of Perrin’s actions and his history, leading to the imposition of a life-long registration as a sex offender and an indefinite detention to protect the community from potential future harm.