CHARLES STEWART'S SHOCKING CRIME IN AIRDRIE AND MORECAMBE: JUDGES REVERSE SENTENCE

In a disturbing case that has shocked the communities of Airdrie and Morecambe, Charles Stewart, a 32-year-old man, was involved in a heinous act of child abuse that involved a twisted ritual and psychological manipulation. Stewart, who currently resides on Hunter Street in Airdrie, Lanarkshire, was convicted of multiple counts of indecent assault related to an incident that took place in Morecambe, where he lured a 12-year-old boy into a disturbing 'initiation ceremony' under the guise of a witches’ coven.

According to court reports, Stewart’s actions left the young victim profoundly affected, suffering emotional and psychological trauma from the abuse. The assault was carried out during a black magic ritual, which Stewart claimed was part of a supposed initiation process. The court heard that Stewart told the boy he needed to be naked to participate in the ceremony, which he falsely claimed would grant him entry into a witches’ coven.

During the ordeal, Stewart made the boy lie down on a bed and proceeded to sexually abuse him. The victim testified that he felt “in pain, frightened and nervous” throughout the experience. After the assault, Stewart reportedly told the boy that he was no longer involved in witchcraft but insisted that they were “in a relationship,” adding a layer of psychological manipulation to the physical abuse.

In December of the previous year, Stewart was convicted at Preston Crown Court on five counts of indecent assault. He was initially sentenced to an extended term of eight years, comprising six years in prison followed by two years on licence in the community. This sentence was intended to reflect the seriousness of his crimes and the potential danger he posed to society.

However, the case took a significant turn when Stewart challenged his sentence at London’s Criminal Appeal Court. The appeal was based on arguments presented by his legal team, asserting that he had been wrongly classified as a dangerous offender. Today, the Court of Appeal, comprising Sir David Maddison, Lord Justice Elias, and Mr Justice Supperstone, upheld Stewart’s appeal and replaced his original sentence with a standard six-year term.

Under the new ruling, Stewart will serve only half of his sentence before becoming eligible for automatic release. Sir David Maddison emphasized that Stewart, then approximately 19 years old at the time of the offense, had lured the boy into the ritual under false pretenses. The judge described the initiation as involving Stewart telling the victim he needed to be naked for the ceremony, which was part of his manipulation.

The court noted that Stewart’s actions did not pose a significant risk of further harm to the public, which influenced the decision to alter his sentence. The judges concluded that a determinate sentence was more appropriate in this case, and the appeal was therefore allowed, marking a notable development in the legal handling of this disturbing case.