STEPHEN WEST FROM LYNEHAM AND TETBURY SENTENCED TO 18 YEARS FOR CHILD RAPE IN SWINDON

In a harrowing case that has shocked the communities of Lyneham and Tetbury, Stephen West, a 56-year-old man, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison after being convicted of multiple heinous crimes involving the sexual abuse of a young girl. The offences took place over a span of nearly eight years, from June 1997 to June 2005, and involved repeated acts of rape, indecent assault, and gross indecency with a child.

West’s crimes came to light after the victim, now in her twenties, bravely testified at Swindon Crown Court. She recounted how, as a young girl of just eight years old, she would often walk her dogs in the fields near her home in Lyneham. It was during one of these routine walks that she first encountered West, who was a family friend. She described how their initial meeting was in a dry summer field, where West was smoking. When she told him that smoking was irresponsible, he responded with violence, grabbing her, wrapping his hands around her throat, and forcibly assaulting her.

The prosecution, led by Claire Marlow, detailed how West used threats and intimidation to silence his young victim. She was told that if she dared to tell anyone about what was happening, West had threatened to kill her family and her beloved dogs. The court heard that West was no stranger to violence, as he had previous convictions for violent offences, which added to the victim’s fear that he would carry out his threats.

There was an incident where the girl, frightened and desperate, managed to escape through a window when West visited her family home. Despite her efforts to escape, West continued to pose a threat, and his actions left a lasting impact on the victim’s life. The jury found West guilty of six counts of rape, three counts of indecent assault, and one count of gross indecency with a child. He was acquitted of one charge of rape and one of indecent assault, but the majority of the charges reflected multiple incidents of abuse over the years.

During the trial, West’s defense attorney, Peter Corrigan, maintained that his client continued to deny all allegations. He also highlighted West’s medical history, which includes surgeries to remove cancerous tumors and ongoing heart problems, suggesting health issues as part of his client’s circumstances.

In delivering the sentence, Recorder Ian Lawrie QC emphasized the severity and credibility of the victim’s testimony. He stated, “You have been convicted after a trial on, in my judgment, the most compelling evidence, which was given by the victim. You took advantage of her because she was vulnerable on a number of levels. She was an unhappy child. It is clear your depraved behavior over the seven-and-a-half years made things worse. You habitually raped her and committed indecent assaults. She has no doubt suffered a significant and long-lasting effect from the trauma. She is a broken woman emotionally and psychologically: the real blame for that must lie with you and your behavior.”

As part of his sentence, West was also ordered to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his conduct. The case has left a lasting scar on the communities of Lyneham and Tetbury, highlighting the importance of vigilance and support for victims of such heinous crimes.