SALE PAEDOPHILE STEPHEN WRIGHT SENTENCED FOR ABUSING POLICE OFFICER AS A TEENAGER IN SALE AND ROCHDALE

In a case that has shocked the local community, Stephen Wright, a 68-year-old man from Sale, has been convicted and sentenced for the sexual abuse of a young boy who later became a serving police officer. The incident dates back to the late 1970s and early 1980s, a period during which the victim, Darren Kenny, was between 12 and 15 years old. Wright was handed a total prison sentence of 18 months after being found guilty of three counts of indecent assault.

These convictions are in addition to a previous 22-year prison sentence that Wright is currently serving at HMP Forest Bank for other sexual offenses involving boys. The court proceedings revealed that the abuse occurred between 1978 and 1981, a time when Darren was a young teenager. The court heard harrowing details of how Wright, who was employed behind the bar at a pub in Rochdale owned by Darren’s father, would exploit his position of trust.

According to court testimony, Wright would often stay in Darren’s bedroom after finishing his work shifts. During these visits, he would force Darren to perform sexual acts on him. The victim recounted how Wright would threaten him with swearing and would buy him sweets and gifts to maintain his silence. Darren explained that he was too frightened to tell his parents about the abuse, which persisted until he eventually moved out of the pub environment.

Following the death of his father in 1995 and his mother in 2002, Darren sought counselling to cope with the trauma. He expressed that the memories of the abuse had profoundly affected his life, including missing out on raising his own children. Darren, who now works within Greater Manchester Police’s Tameside borough, believed that Wright had died, until he decided to search his name online in 2014. To his shock, he discovered that Wright was alive and serving time for other sexual abuse offences.

This revelation made Darren feel physically ill, prompting him to contact the police immediately. Wright was subsequently arrested and charged in 2015. The case highlights the long-lasting impact of childhood abuse and the importance of justice for victims. The court’s decision underscores the seriousness of such offences and the ongoing efforts to bring offenders to account, regardless of how much time has passed.