STEVEN WHITWORTH BURY RAPE CASE: TEENAGE GIRL SPEAKS OUT AFTER SENTENCE

In a distressing case that has shocked the community of Bury, a teenage girl has come forward to recount her traumatic experience involving her best friend's father, Steven Whitworth. The incident dates back to August 2006, when Chloe, then just 15 years old, was babysitting at Whitworth's residence on Rowen Drive in Bury. During this time, Whitworth subjected her to sexual assault, including forcing her to perform sex acts before raping her while everyone else in the house was asleep. The assault resulted in Chloe contracting two sexually transmitted infections, adding to the trauma she endured.

Chloe reported the assault to the police a month after the incident. However, despite her bravery in coming forward, law enforcement at the time determined there was insufficient evidence to pursue charges against Whitworth. This decision left her feeling devastated and betrayed, as she recalls being called derogatory names such as 'slag' and 'slut' by peers, and being accused of 'grass' for reporting the crime. The emotional toll was immense, and she describes her experience as a period of two years of suffering, during which she grappled with feelings of dirtiness and violation.

Despite the initial setback, Whitworth continued to commit further sexual offenses. Two years after Chloe's report, he was responsible for two additional assaults, which led to his sentencing in April of this year. Whitworth, aged 41, was given an eight-year prison sentence for these subsequent crimes. More recently, on September 12, he received a two-year prison term for the original rape incident. Chloe, now 17, has chosen to speak out publicly, waiving her right to anonymity, in hopes of encouraging other victims to come forward and to highlight the failures in the justice process.

Expressing her frustration, Chloe stated, “I wanted to speak out to encourage other women to come forward. I’m really angry that the police let him go. He was able to go and commit those assaults while he was out and I feel sick that he was able to do that.” She emphasized her belief that if Whitworth had been charged when she initially reported the crime, the subsequent assaults might have been prevented.

Now, as she attempts to rebuild her life, Chloe shared her ongoing struggles. She explained, “I am trying now to get my life back on track. Sometimes it is hard because when I think about it, obviously it is quite upsetting. I’m attending counselling at the minute and that is helping to get it off my chest but it is difficult. I want to get my head down and try to get a job but at the minute I’m just not in the right frame of mind. I just want a normal life like the other girls I know.” Her courage in speaking out underscores her desire to heal and move forward from a painful chapter in her life.