STUART HARRIS

On October 6, Stuart Harris appeared at Northampton Crown Court, admitting to failing to appear for court proceedings.

He was sentenced to 11 weeks in prison, to be served consecutively to his earlier sentence.

A separate case involved Harris, a man who was sentenced for sexually abusing two young women.

The police were contacted in 2021 by one of the victims, who described long-term abuse by Harris, then aged 61.

She reported that Harris began abusing her when she was a teenager, inappropriately touching her despite her protests and threatening her to keep her silent.

An investigation uncovered a second victim, who detailed being sexually assaulted by Harris over a period of at least three years.

Harris was arrested and faced multiple sexual offence charges.

Despite denying the allegations, he was convicted after a trial where he did not attend court on May 29.

He was found guilty of three counts involving the sexual abuse of a woman aged 16 or older.

On September 10, Harris, of Bourton Way, Wellingborough, was sentenced to three years and six months’ imprisonment in absentia, as he again did not appear for sentencing.

He was also placed on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely and required to pay a court-ordered surcharge.

Following the sentencing, Detective Constable Fay Maskell from CID North expressed her relief at the outcome.

She described Harris as a predatory individual who exploited trust to commit repeated abuses, using threats to silence his victims.

She commended the bravery of both women for coming forward and participating in the trial, emphasizing how their actions ensured that Harris was identified and convicted.

She reiterated her commitment to apprehending Harris, who remains at large, and sent a message that justice has already caught up with him, with efforts ongoing to bring him into custody and serve his sentence.