SHELDON PAEDOPHILE DAVID STENHOUSE SENTENCED FOR HORRIFIC SEX OFFENCES IN BIRMINGHAM

In a disturbing case that has shocked the local community of Sheldon, Birmingham, David Stenhouse, a 77-year-old former church minister, has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term after being found guilty of a series of heinous sexual offences committed against young boys over three decades ago.

Stenhouse’s crimes, which spanned approximately 30 years, involved luring boys aged between 12 and 15 into situations where he subjected them to sexual abuse. The court heard that he used his position within the church and his role as a delivery driver to gain the trust of these vulnerable youngsters, often inviting them on trips and outings under the guise of community service or work-related activities.

During these trips, which sometimes included overnight stays in hotels, Stenhouse engaged in increasingly disturbing acts. He would buy the boys takeaways, give them money to visit arcades, and in some cases, he would show them pornography to manipulate and groom them. The court was told that he even equipped the back of his van with a mattress, where he encouraged one of his victims to have sex with a blow-up doll while he watched and masturbated.

One of the victims recounted how Stenhouse had threatened him with a knife, warning him not to disclose the abuse. This intimidation was part of a pattern of control and coercion that kept the victims silent for years. The abuse was not limited to a single incident but occurred repeatedly, with one victim revealing he was assaulted between 50 and 100 times over a three-year period.

Authorities launched an investigation into the allegations after victims, demonstrating remarkable bravery, came forward in December 2017. The case gained further attention because Stenhouse had previously been convicted 30 years earlier for abusing a teenage boy, for which he received a suspended sentence. Despite this prior conviction, the abuse persisted, highlighting a troubling pattern of predatory behavior.

Stenhouse’s guilty plea to 13 counts of indecent assault and four counts of gross indecency was entered last Friday. The court, after reviewing the evidence and considering the gravity of his actions, sentenced him to a total of 14 years and seven months behind bars at Birmingham Crown Court. His sentencing marks a significant step in addressing the long-standing abuse and delivering justice for the victims affected by his actions.