LAZENBY PAEDOPHILE STEVEN MCLONE ESCAPES JAIL AFTER SEXUAL ASSAULTS ON YOUNG GIRLS NEAR TEESSIDE AND THE MOORS

In a case that has shocked the local community, Steven McLone, a resident of Lazenby, was found guilty of sexually abusing two young girls in separate incidents. The court proceedings revealed disturbing details about his actions, which took place in and around the Teesside area, including the nearby moors.

In July 2018, McLone appeared before Teesside Crown Court to face charges related to these serious offenses. Despite the gravity of his crimes, he was spared imprisonment, with the judge citing concerns that incarceration might hinder his prospects for rehabilitation. Instead, McLone was handed a three-year community order, along with 25 days of mandated rehabilitation programs.

The prosecution, led by Jonathan Walker, outlined that one of the assaults occurred in 2016, during which McLone sexually assaulted a young girl. The victim was reportedly terrified during the attack, which involved McLone taking photographs of her on his phone. Police investigations uncovered intimate images of the girl on McLone’s device, some taken at the time of the assault. Witnesses stated that McLone attempted to undress the girl while capturing photographs, actions that left her deeply distressed and prompted her to report the incident immediately.

Further details revealed that McLone had also sexually assaulted another girl in a similar manner, with the court hearing that his actions had a lasting impact on the victims. One of the young girls affected by his crimes provided a statement indicating that the assault had affected her school life and mental health, mentioning that she had begun hearing voices, a sign of the emotional trauma inflicted.

Following his arrest and the discovery of the evidence, McLone traveled to the moors, where he reportedly threatened to kill himself, indicating the psychological toll of his actions and the subsequent legal proceedings.

During the court hearing, Judge Sean Morris acknowledged McLone’s characterization as “odd” but emphasized that his mental health should not be a reason to avoid justice. The judge expressed concern that sending McLone to prison might jeopardize his chances of rehabilitation but ultimately decided that a community-based sentence was more appropriate given the circumstances.

In addition to the community order, McLone was placed under a sexual harm prevention order and was registered on the sex offenders register, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his activities. The case has left many in Lazenby and the wider Teesside community questioning how such offenses could occur and what measures are in place to protect vulnerable children from individuals like McLone.