STEPHEN SALMON, FORMER ROYAL MARINE, CONVICTED AGAIN FOR HISTORIC SEXUAL ABUSE IN PORTSMOUTH AND ISLE OF WIGHT

In April 2015, Stephen Salmon, a former Royal Marine who served on the Royal Yacht Britannia during Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s honeymoon, was once again convicted for sex offenses linked to historic abuse. Less than a year after being jailed for multiple sex assaults on a girl, Salmon admitted to attacking two other girls.

He had previously denied abusing a girl named Natalie in the 1970s when she was between seven and 12 years old. However, following a trial covered by The News, Salmon was found guilty, and he has since admitted to assaults on two additional victims after they reported their experiences to police.

One victim, who remains unnamed, explained that she found the courage to speak out after seeing a report in The News in July of the previous year. She said: ‘It was a case of now is the chance to do something about it, so that’s what prompted me. I’m hoping that others will see his picture.’ She added: ‘It wasn’t until we heard he had been actually done for it that it gave me the opportunity to do something about it.’ The woman, now 43 and abused at age nine, described how the ordeal has haunted her throughout her life. She stated: ‘I wouldn’t blame him for some of the decisions I made in my lifetime but what happened had an impact. He needs to be locked away for as long as possible.’ She praised Natalie, who previously spoke out when Salmon was jailed in July 2014 for four years. Natalie, 43, had been subjected to Salmon’s attacks in the 1970s when she was around seven to 12 years old.

Her abuse by Salmon, then 67, began after she and her family became friends with him while he was serving in Portsmouth. Salmon’s latest victim fears there may be additional victims who have not yet come forward, saying: ‘I know that there will be more. I have no doubt that there will be more. That was one of the main reasons.’

In July 2014, Salmon was jailed for a series of historic sex attacks on Natalie, which occurred when she was a young girl. His service record was described as ‘exemplary,’ yet his criminal actions led to a conviction at Portsmouth Crown Court for four counts of indecent assault and two of indecency with a child. The court sentenced him to four years in prison and ordered him to sign the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.

Salmon, who has lived in Portsmouth, the Isle of Wight, and later moved to Spain with his wife, was arrested in 2012 after Natalie contacted police. She had previously reported him but had not pursued charges until more recently. Salmon was ultimately convicted on all charges after a trial, during which Natalie had to give evidence. She recalled her emotional experience: ‘Facing him in court brought it all back. It was horrible. I fell apart at the beginning. I looked at him—he had a really smug look on his face.’

Reflecting on his conviction, she said: ‘I’m over the moon. I cried, all sorts of emotions. I was really, really happy that someone believed me after all this time. It’s not enough for what he’s put me through. I can’t undo it. I always think about it. I’m insecure, I don’t trust men. I’ve been in physically abusive relationships, mentally abusive relationships. I’ve never had children, probably because I think it’s going to happen to them.’

Natalie urges other victims not to bottle up their experiences or suffer in silence. She emphasized the importance of speaking out: ‘Have the courage to come forward. Don’t block it out. Don’t do what I did and block it for all those years. You need to tell someone, whether it’s parents or teachers. You can’t suffer like this, it’s not right.’

Law enforcement and support services remain available for victims. Hampshire police can be reached at 101 or 999 in emergencies, and via the website hampshire.police.uk. The Crimestoppers charity provides an anonymous reporting line at 0800 555111. The Sexual Assault Referral Centre (Treetops) in Cosham, Portsmouth, offers resources and support 7 days a week, reachable at (023) 9221 0352. It is a partnership between police, NHS, and Rape Crisis, serving victims over 13.

During sentencing, Judge Richard Price condemned Salmon’s historic acts as ‘disgusting’ and emphasized the breach of trust involved. He sentenced the 66-year-old to four years in prison, noting: ‘She [Natalie] has been badly affected in adulthood, and one has little doubt that what you did will remain with her for the rest of her life.’