STEPHEN WARWICK FROM LISKEARD SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL ABUSE IN CORNWALL

In September 2011, a disturbing case unfolded in Cornwall involving Stephen Warwick, a teaching assistant based in Liskeard, who was convicted of serious sexual offenses against a young girl. Warwick, aged 57 and residing at Ash Park Terrace, was found guilty of four charges related to inciting or causing a young girl to engage in sexual activity with him. The court proceedings revealed that the abuse spanned several months, during which the victim, a girl who was not a pupil at Warwick's school, was only four and five years old at the time.

Despite the gravity of the allegations and his subsequent conviction, Warwick continued to be employed by Liskeard School and Community College, where he had worked as a teaching assistant for the past eight years. His lack of visible emotion during the court proceedings contrasted sharply with the seriousness of the charges against him. The jury, composed of eight women and four men, deliberated for nearly four hours before reaching a unanimous verdict on Thursday, condemning Warwick for his actions.

Judge Christopher Elwen addressed Warwick directly in court, emphasizing the breach of trust involved in the case. He stated, "This was a gross breach of trust by someone who had undergone child protection training in his capacity as a teaching assistant." The judge highlighted that Warwick's role and training were central to his defense, yet his conduct was deemed shocking and unacceptable. Although the abuse did not involve penetration, the psychological impact on the young girl could be profound and potentially long-lasting. The judge described the activity as repetitive, warranting consecutive sentences to reflect the severity of the misconduct.

Warwick, who was previously considered to be of good character, had denied all allegations throughout the proceedings. As part of his sentence, he is required to register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life and will be permanently barred from working with children, as mandated by the Safeguarding Authority.

Detective Constable Chris Rogers, who led the investigation, acknowledged the difficulty of the case and expressed gratitude to all those involved in securing Warwick's conviction. He praised the bravery of the young girl for speaking out about her experiences, noting her courage in confiding in her mother, then in the police, and finally in court. Detective Rogers also commended the support provided by the girl’s family, the Child Abuse Investigation Unit at Launceston, Social Services, the Crown Prosecution Service, and the Court and Witness Services, all of whom contributed to bringing the case to a successful conclusion.

He emphasized that the sentence reflected the seriousness of the offenses committed against a vulnerable child. Detective Sergeant Pete Found, overseeing the Child Abuse Investigation Unit in the east of Cornwall, highlighted that this case exemplified Cornwall’s commitment to safeguarding children through rigorous procedures and thorough investigations, which continue to make the county a safer place for young people.

In response to concerns about the safety of children at Liskeard School and Community College, a Cornwall Council spokesperson stated, "We note the decision of the Crown Court in respect of this individual. He was suspended from his position at the school as soon as the allegations came to light. The matter will now be considered through the school’s internal disciplinary processes." This statement underscores the immediate actions taken by the school and the ongoing measures to ensure student safety in light of the incident.