Man who manipulated and sexually abused four boys over several years has been jailed

A 55-year-old man has been jailed after admitting a series of child sexual offences against four boys spanning several years.

In February 2023, police received a report from a man disclosing non recent sexual abuse against him when he was a young child.

The case was flagged by Humberside Police’s Protecting Vulnerable People Unit and an investigation was launched.

Police inquiries established Graham Stephenson, 55 from Hull, had used money and other forms of manipulation to sexually abuse the vulnerable young boy.

The abuse then continued for around six years, starting when the victim was around 10 years old, a court was told.

As the investigation progressed, further enquiries identified a second potential victim, who, when approached by officers, disclosed that he had been sexually abused by Stephenson from the age of six, with the offending continuing for approximately nine years.

Stephenson was subsequently 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, a third man came forward with similar reports of sexual abuse he had been subjected to by Stephenson.

During the investigation, officers also identified a fourth man who had been subjected to sexual behaviour by Stephenson in 2004.

As part of the investigation, Stephenson’s home address was searched by officers, and around 45 devices were seized.

Following examination, over 500 illegal images were located on his computer devices, including images of a sexual nature.

The evidence further underlined Stephenson’s involvement in the non-recent abuse of the four boys, a court heard.

Stephenson appeared at Grimsby Crown Court on Monday (Jul 27), after he 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.

He was sentenced to eighteen years and four months behind bars

In addition to his custodial sentence, he also received an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Detective Constable Rebecca Davison from our Protecting Vulnerable People Unit said: “Rape and sexual abuse against boys and men is extremely underreported, 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 over many years, 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.

“Hear from another brave sexual abuse survivor who waived her legal right to lifelong anonymity to tell her story and encourage more people to come forward and tell someone.”