STEVEN COTTRELL FROM STOURBRIDGE JAILED FOR UNDERAGE SEX OFFENSES IN EAST SUSSEX AND HAMPSHIRE

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the local communities, Steven Cottrell, a former police officer now residing in Stourbridge, West Midlands, has been sentenced to six months in prison for serious sexual misconduct involving a minor. The conviction stems from an incident where Cottrell, then a serving officer, engaged in indecent acts with a 15-year-old girl whom he met during her work experience placement at Eastleigh police station in Hampshire.

Details of the case emerged after a lengthy legal process, including a two-week retrial at Lewes Crown Court in East Sussex. The initial trial ended without a verdict, prompting a retrial where the jury ultimately found Cottrell guilty of the charges. The court heard that the police officer, who was previously based on the Isle of Wight before relocating to Stourbridge, had developed a relationship with the young girl after their initial meeting during her placement in 1999. The two exchanged telephone numbers, and Cottrell subsequently engaged in sexual activity with her on two separate occasions.

Following his conviction, Cottrell faces disciplinary proceedings initiated by senior officers within Hampshire Police. The judge presiding over the case, Anthony Scott-Gall, expressed his condemnation of Cottrell’s actions, emphasizing that the officer had failed to control his sexual urges, which led him down a path of criminal behavior. The judge also addressed additional allegations involving Cottrell’s interactions with two other young girls aged 13 and 14, whom he met while investigating a burglary at their residence. Although Cottrell was cleared of two charges related to these girls, the jury was unable to reach a verdict on four other charges, leading the judge to direct not guilty verdicts on those counts.

Furthermore, Cottrell was acquitted of a charge of indecent assault against the girl involved in his work experience and of attempting to pervert the course of justice by allegedly persuading her to withdraw her statement. As part of his sentence, Cottrell has been ordered to register as a sex offender for the next seven years and is disqualified from working with children in any capacity.

Cottrell’s career in law enforcement spanned several years, primarily on the Isle of Wight, where he initially started at Ryde in September 1992 before transferring to Shanklin in January 1996. His subsequent postings included Shirley, Southampton, and Eastleigh in early 2001. Born in Birmingham, he moved to the Isle of Wight with his family at the age of 15, attending local schools and working in various roles, including as a waiter and store manager, before his police career.

His case has raised serious concerns about the conduct of law enforcement officers and the importance of safeguarding vulnerable individuals from exploitation and abuse by those entrusted with authority.