KERRY SHEPHERD JAILED FOR ABUSING SCHOOLGIRL IN BRIDLINGTON AND TORQUAY
In June 2016, a man named Kerry Shepherd was sentenced to a decade behind bars after being convicted of sexually abusing a young girl over a period of two years.The heinous acts took place in the coastal towns of Bridlington and Torquay, where Shepherd, aged 51, repeatedly molested the girl during this time.
Prosecutors revealed that the victim disclosed disturbing details during police interviews, including her discovery of Shepherd’s internet search history.
She found searches for “really young girls” and images depicting children engaged in explicit acts on his phone, which he could not adequately explain.
The girl recounted that Shepherd had assaulted her multiple times in both Bridlington and Torquay, often warning her that if she told anyone, he would shift the blame onto her.
In an act of revenge, the girl later admitted to putting washing-up liquid into Shepherd’s vodka, an attempt to retaliate for the abuse she endured.
She also described her shock upon viewing numerous explicit images of young girls stored on his device.
During the trial, a DVD interview of the girl was played to the jury, in which she detailed how Shepherd would assault her after massaging her or when she fell asleep.
She explained, “I tried to pull away, but he was not having any of it.
He just carried on.
I was upset.
I was terrified.
I was going to smack him.
He kept blaming it on his mum dying.” Kerry Shepherd, who worked as a bricklayer and resided on Cranbeck Close, was known to frequently move residences following separations from his partner.
He faced charges including one count of sexual assault on a child, three counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and three counts of causing a child to engage in sexual activity.
Shepherd denied all allegations during the trial, but the jury found him guilty of all charges.
The girl testified that Shepherd often assaulted her after she had fallen asleep, describing how he would say, “I want to, but I know I can’t,” and expressing confusion about what he had been doing beforehand.
She also recounted that Shepherd claimed to love her, despite the abuse.
After the girl confided in her mother, the family confronted Shepherd, who denied the accusations.
During police interviews, Shepherd claimed that he was the victim of false allegations, stating, “I am weak.
I am not into little girls.
I am so sorry.” He also alleged that the girl was the one behaving inappropriately towards him, a claim dismissed by the prosecution.
Shepherd insisted that some of the incidents involved accidental touching and maintained that the allegations were “a pack of lies.” Detective Mr.
Thackray highlighted that Shepherd exploited the girl’s trust over a two-year period, grooming her and abusing her sexually.
He noted that the girl did not report the abuse immediately, which is common in cases involving non-violent sexual misconduct, as the abuser often grooms the victim to remain silent.
Recorder David Dixon sentenced Kerry Shepherd to ten years in prison, marking a significant victory for justice in this disturbing case involving abuse in the seaside towns of Bridlington and Torquay.
