FAREHAM SEX OFFENDER STEVEN WARD SENTENCED TO 24 YEARS IN PRISON
A sex offender from Fareham, Steven Ward, has been sentenced to 24 years in prison after being convicted of multiple sexual offences.The 43-year-old, residing on Chartwell Close, was found guilty by a jury of 15 counts of rape, five counts of sexual activity with a child, and one count of sexual assault, all committed between 2006 and 2017.
Court proceedings at Portsmouth Crown Court revealed that the crimes were carried out against three different girls.
Ward also admitted to one count of sexual activity with a child but was acquitted of another count of sexual activity with a child and one count of rape.
On January 13, he received his extensive sentence.
Detective Constable Marie Duffy expressed her gratitude to the victims: “I would like to thank the victims for their bravery in coming forward and trusting us enough to tell us what had happened to them.
Without their courage, this depraved man would not be behind bars today.
I hope that today’s conviction and jail sentence gives others who have suffered abuse of this nature the confidence to report it to police.
We will always take these sorts of allegations extremely seriously, and wholeheartedly commend the courage it takes to speak out many years after incidents have happened.”
