A North Yorkshire man has been jailed for ten years and nine months for ‘sickening’ sexual abuse against a boy.
In March, 67-year-old Stephen John Mitchell, of Northstead Flats, Scarborough, pleaded guilty to six charges. These included raping the child on five occasions, four counts of indecency with a child and one charge of indecent assault against a child.
The offences date back to the 1990s and the charges contain multiple occasions that Mitchell abused the child.
He incited the child to masturbate him, perform oral sex on him, and penetration.
Mitchell was brought to justice at York Crown Court yesterday (13 May) and was also issued with an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.
The abuse began when the boy was primary school age and Mitchell began grooming him by buying him food and allowing him to watch cartoons on satellite TV with him.
Before long he began to show him pornographic films, then began performing sex acts on himself in front of the child.
This escalated to inciting the boy to reciprocate and perform various sex acts on Mitchell.
The abuse continued for years with Mitchell threatening to abuse a younger child who was close to the victim if he told anyone.
In his victim’s personal statement read out at court, the victim, now an adult, addressed Mitchell directly, saying:
“You no longer control me, and you cannot destroy me or my family. I am closer to my family than I have ever been and can enjoy a life outside work. I used work as a tool to push my thoughts and feelings to the back of my mind and worked long, long hours. No more, I can now enjoy a life where you have no power. I have come through this as a much stronger person. I will never forgive you Mitchell, the gates of hell are waiting for you.”
Investigating officer, Police Staff Investigator, Anne Yates, of the Safeguarding Investigation Team, said:
“Mitchell has shown no remorse for the horrific abuse that he inflicted on an innocent child.
“The victim has shown immense courage in coming forward and providing the evidence that gave Mitchell no option but to plead guilty.
“No child should ever have to experience the trauma that he had to endure over a prolonged period of time. But he has come through this strong and with hope for the future, which is truly admirable. I hope he continues to move on with his life, putting this trauma behind him, knowing that Mitchell is now facing the consequences of his depraved abuse.”
PSI Yates added: “I urge anyone who has been a victim of abuse to contact us if you have not already.
“We have support services and specially-trained offices to help people consider their options and work through what has happened to them. We are here to help, regardless of how long ago the offences happened.”