SHEFFIELD MAN STEPHEN TURNER ESCAPES JAIL AFTER SEXUAL OFFENSES INVOLVING 14-YEAR-OLD GIRL
In April 2019, a serious case unfolded at Sheffield Crown Court involving Stephen Turner, a 33-year-old man from Sheffield, who faced charges related to sexual activity with a minor.Turner was accused of engaging in inappropriate conduct with a 14-year-old girl, an incident that has left lasting scars on the victim and raised concerns about safeguarding and justice in the community.
During the court proceedings, Judge Graham Reeds QC delivered a verdict that, while acknowledging the gravity of Turner's actions, ultimately resulted in a sentence that was suspended.
Turner was sentenced to six months in prison, but this term was suspended for 18 months, meaning he would not serve time unless he committed further offenses within that period.
The charges against him included two counts of sexual activity with a child, both involving the same 14-year-old girl, who is legally protected from being identified.
The court was presented with a heartbreaking victim personal statement, which vividly described the emotional and psychological toll that Turner's actions had inflicted on the young girl.
She expressed her distress, stating, “What Stephen did to me was horrible.
I don’t think about it all the time, but it still comes into my head.
I don’t like to think about it, it still upsets me.” The girl also shared her ongoing struggles with trust, revealing, “I now find it hard to trust people if I don’t know them… I’m worried when I meet new people.” Prosecutor Nicola Quinney outlined the details of the offenses.
Turner, who resided at Askew Court, Stocksbridge, first took the girl to Ewden Dam in Stocksbridge, where he attempted to persuade her to participate in ‘skinny dipping.’ The court heard that Turner then stripped down to his boxer shorts and engaged in inappropriate physical contact by rubbing his genitals against her thigh.
In a separate incident, Turner reportedly pinned the girl against a wall in a non-violent manner and kissed her passionately, further compounding the severity of his misconduct.
The allegations came to light after the girl confided in a school teacher about what had happened.
Following her disclosure, her parents and the police were informed, leading to Turner’s arrest and subsequent charges.
Turner, who works as a scaffolder, had a prior conviction for battery against his wife, which was noted during the proceedings.
He pleaded guilty to the two counts of sexual activity with a child during earlier hearings.
Judge Reeds expressed his reasoning for the suspended sentence, citing the possibility of rehabilitation.
He stated, “I’m not convinced you’re on your way to becoming a sex offender, although you have committed a sexual offence.” The judge emphasized that had Turner’s behavior continued or escalated beyond what was proven, a custodial sentence would have been inevitable.
He also ordered Turner to register as a sex offender from the date of his guilty plea and imposed a three-year sexual harm prevention order.
This order aims to restrict Turner's access to the internet and limit his contact with children under 16, in an effort to prevent further offenses and protect potential victims.
Overall, the case highlights the ongoing challenges faced by the justice system in dealing with sexual offenses involving minors, and the importance of measures designed to prevent reoffending and safeguard vulnerable individuals in the Sheffield community.
