STEVEN STRANGE AND SHOCKING CHILD OFFENCES IN BRISTOL
Steven Strange, a man with a concerning history of sexual offenses, was recently sentenced to prison after breaching court-imposed restrictions and engaging in inappropriate contact with a vulnerable adolescent.Strange, aged 34 and residing on Jacob's Wells Road in Bristol, had previously been subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) that explicitly prohibited him from having any contact with children under the age of 16.
Despite these legal restrictions, Strange managed to form an unwelcome connection with a 14-year-old girl who was deemed vulnerable.
According to the court proceedings, Strange approached the girl at a park in Bristol, initiating contact in a manner that violated the court order.
He introduced himself as being 21 years old and provided his mobile phone number to her.
The girl, feeling uneasy with the situation, initially left but later returned to meet him again.
Bristol Crown Court heard that the girl and Strange went on several walks together in the park area.
They made plans to meet again the following day, which they did.
During their next encounter, they continued their walk and even visited Strange’s residence.
However, the girl remained outside the home during this visit.
Later, after an argument with her mother, she returned to Strange’s residence in the late hours of the night and wandered around in the dark with him until she finally returned home around 1 a.m.
The following day, Strange, who had obtained the girl’s mobile number, contacted her by phone.
This action was a clear breach of the court order.
Fortunately, her mother intercepted the call and prevented any further contact.
Following this incident, the girl’s mother reported the matter to police authorities.
Law enforcement officials quickly acted by tracking down Strange, who was found outside his address in Bristol.
During police interviews, Strange claimed to be unaware of the girl’s age, asserting he thought she was over 16.
He also mentioned that he had given her a cigarette, which was confirmed by police to be true.
However, he denied any sexual contact with her.
The police investigation revealed further breaches of his legal obligations, including his failure to notify their whereabouts to authorities under sex offender registration requirements.
Strange admitted to two breaches of the SHPO and to failing to update his residential details, behaviors associated with his previous convictions for rape of a girl under 16 and two sexual assaults.
In court, the prosecution, led by Sam Jones, highlighted Strange’s history of sex offending and his non-compliance with legal restrictions.
The defense, presented by Catherine Spedding, argued that Strange’s background was troubled and that there was no evidence of sexual contact between him and the girl.
She emphasized that Strange believed there was some form of mutual understanding based on his conversations with the girl and his own experiences.
Despite these defenses, Judge Mr.
Richard Smith QC found that Strange’s actions constituted a serious breach of the law.
Approving the evidence presented, the judge sentenced Strange to 18 months in prison.
His repeated non-compliance and breach of safety measures demonstrated a disregard for both the court’s orders and the safety of minors.
As a result, the court’s decision underscores the importance of strict enforcement in cases involving predatory behavior and violations of protective orders in Bristol and beyond.
