‘The investigation showed a clear pattern of manipulation over many years’
Graham Stephenson, 55, of Nestor Grove in Hull, who has been jailed for 18 years and four months.(Image: Humberside Police)
A Hull man who used money and other forms of manipulation to sexually abuse four young boys has been caged for more than 18 years. Graham Stephenson, 55, of Nestor Grove in Hull, is now behind bars after appearing at Grimsby Crown Court on Monday to be sentenced.
He initially denied all allegations – yet eventually pleaded guilty to two counts of inciting a boy to engage in sexual activity, rape, sexual activity with a child and making indecent photographs of a child. As well as his custodial sentence, he received an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
Detectives praised the bravery and strength of four men who came forward and reported the historic sexual abuse against them, all carried out by Stephenson when they were just children. They watched their perpetrator get sentenced to a total of eighteen years and four months behind bars, and ordered to remain on the Sex Offenders Register for life.
Officers first received a report from a man in February 2023, disclosing non recent sexual abuse against him when he was a young child. The case was immediately flagged with Humberside Police’s Protecting Vulnerable People Unit and an investigation was launched, with officers recording interviews from the man who had come forward.
Stephenson had used money and other forms of manipulation to sexually abuse the vulnerable young boy. A second potential victim was identified during investigations – and he told officers that he had been just six years old when Stephenson targeted him.
Stephenson was arrested in July 2023, and during his interview in custody he denied all offences and any knowledge of what the victims had reported. Following the arrest – and after both men had told their close ones that they had come forward to the police to explain what Stephenson had subjected them to – a third man, also known to them, then came forward with similar reports.
Later, officers identified a fourth man who had been subjected to sexual behaviour by Stephenson. Stephenson’s home address was searched by officers, and around 45 devices were seized, uncovering more than 500 illegal images on his computers, including images of a sexual nature.
Police said the evidence further underlined Stephenson’s involvement in the non-recent abuse of the four boys.
Detective Constable Rebecca Davison from our Protecting Vulnerable People Unit said: “Rape and sexual abuse against boys and men is extremely under-reported, and I would like to start by acknowledging and commending the four men for coming forward and reporting what had happened to them as such young children.
“We wouldn’t be here today without the bravery and strength shown by the men throughout the entirety of what has been a very lengthy and complex investigation, but despite everything they had been through they were all still willing to give evidence which has ultimately led us to get some kind of justice for them.
“Stephenson denied all allegations when interviewed and initially pleaded not guilty, only later changing his plea to guilty. The investigation showed a clear pattern of manipulation, where he deliberately used influence and control to facilitate the abuse of these boys.
“We take reports of rape, and other sexual offences, both recent and non-recent, extremely seriously and will continue to seek justice for those who have suffered at the hands of such sordid individuals like Stephenson.
“No matter your age or gender, or whether the offences took place yesterday or 30 years ago, we would encourage you to tell someone you trust and report it to the police.”
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