STUART YOUNG OF BRIDGWATER JAILED FOR EIGHT YEARS AFTER DRUNKEN CONFESSION

In March 2011, Stuart Young, 34, from Bridgwater, was sentenced to eight years in prison after admitting to a series of serious sexual offenses against a young girl. Young's crimes involved abuse and rape of a girl aged between nine and 12, which he couldn't bear to live with, and he confessed to her mother in a drunken state.

The Gloucester Crown Court heard that on March 26 of the previous year, Young, under the influence of alcohol, blurted out to the girl’s mother that he had been sexually abusing her. This led to police being called to investigate. Young expressed his own disgust with his actions, stating to officers, “It’s all I deserve,” acknowledging his guilt.

Young pleaded guilty to oral rape of the girl, who was 11 at the time, and also admitted to four sexual assault charges involving the girl from when she was nine until she was 11, with these offenses occurring from 2007 onwards.

Judge William Hart sentenced Young to eight years in prison, adding an extra four years on license, meaning that after serving four years, Young could be released but would be subject to recall if he re-offended or breached conditions during the subsequent licensing period.

The judge described the crimes as “a catalogue of serious sexual offences against a very young girl,” and noted the unusual circumstances around how the abuse was disclosed. “The way this came to light is unusual,” he said. “You yourself disclosed what had been going on, and it is said on your behalf that you saw that as the only way of the abuse stopping.”

In addition to the prison sentence and license period, Young was ordered to register as a sex offender for life and was subject to a sexual offences prevention order.

Prosecutor Derek Ryder stated that after Young’s release from prison in October 2009, he moved into the Ryecroft Bail Hostel but frequently visited the girl’s family home. Between the ages of nine and a half and 12, the girl was abused by Young.

On March 26, Young, in a drunken state, admitted to the girl’s mother, “I have abused her.”

Defence lawyer Lloyd Jenkins presented a letter written by Young, from which he quoted, saying: “I told her mother what I had done so she could get help and not end up like me. That is the only positive thing I can do. I hope she is able to rebuild her life. I am so sorry for what I have done and all the hurt I have caused everyone.”

Mr. Jenkins emphasized that Young could not live with the guilt and that it led him to bring the case forward himself.