A pensioner is facing spending the rest of his life behind bars after being found guilty of raping and indecently assaulting a young girl in the 1970s and 1980s.
Seventy-six-year-old Ralph Stevenson was today jailed for 22 years for assaulting the girl repeatedly at addresses in the Nottingham area.
A jury at Nottingham Crown Court heard how the victim found the strength to report the offences when she learned that Stevenson had been convicted and jailed for a string of similar offences.
The woman, who cannot be named, explained how she’d endured regular sexual assaults during her childhood, including two incidents of rape when she was just 13 years old.
Stevenson, who was already serving an 18-year sentence for raping and sexually assaulting another child between 2008 and 2013, denied all the allegations against him when he was interviewed by officers.
However, he was found guilty on today (Monday) of a total of 23 counts of sexual assault and two counts of rape.
He was jailed for 22 years and given an indefinite restraining order.
Detective Constable Amy Revill, of Nottinghamshire Police, has been overseeing the investigation since the allegations were first reported in September 2019.
She said: “This was an appalling catalogue of offences that – had it not been for the bravery and determination of the victim – would have gone unresolved and unpunished.
“Stevenson repeatedly assaulted a child over a period of more than ten years – forcing her to engage in acts that she was simply too young to understand.
Today’s sentencing brings to an end the court case which has been a difficult journey for the victim, who displayed great dignity and courage in taking her complaints to the police.
“So, as Stevenson prepares to spend even more of this life in prison, I would like to publicly thank her and her family for help and cooperation they have given to this investigation at what I know has been an extremely difficult time.
“Even though these offences happened a very long time ago we investigated them in exactly the same way we always do – with care, determination and professionalism. I am delighted that we have been able to get justice for the victim and hope that the end of this trial gives some sense of closure.
“I would also like to remind all victims of sexual abuse that it is never too late to report what happened to you in the past. We will listen to you, we will investigate and we will to our absolute best to get justice for you.”
