November 2011 Kidderminster man jailed for sexual abuse of boy A KIDDERMINSTER man has been jailed for four years for the sexual abuse of a young boy. Stephen Michael Walker admitted eight charges of indecent assault and eight of gross indecency. Walker, known as Mick, aged 51, of Baskerville Road, was sentenced by Judge Patrick Thomas QC at Worcester crown court today. He was also ordered to remain on the sex offenders register for life. The offences occurred started in 1989, when the victim was just four years old, and continued until 1996, when he was 11. Walker, who was known to the victim, sexually abused him once or twice a week over the seven-year period. The abuse only ended when the victim, who knew Walker, was old enough to sever contact with him. Detective constable Carol Davenport of West Mercia Police said: “The abuse has had a huge impact on the victim, now a young man. His life has been badly affected by what Walker did to him. “He is to be commended for having the courage to come forward and at least Walker’s guilty pleas meant he was spared the further ordeal of having to give evidence in court. “Whether or not the victim will ever fully be able to come to terms with what happened to him, we hope he will take comfort from knowing justice has been done and start to pick up the pieces of his life.” She added: “This sentence is proportionate and we feel it reflects the severity of the offences, as well as sending out a strong message to offenders that crimes of this nature can be successfully prosecuted, even many years after they occurred. “We also hope that the sentence gives some reassurance to other victims of historical sexual abuse and their families that the police will robustly pursue all allegations, and do all we can to ensure such offenders are brought to justice.”