PHILIP WEBSTER FROM CHERRY BURTON JAILED FOR RAPE OF 14-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN EAST YORKSHIRE STABLES

In a case that has shocked the local community of Cherry Burton and the wider East Yorkshire area, Philip Webster, a 58-year-old former finance director of Hull City, a Premier League football club, has been sentenced to ten years in prison for the heinous crime of raping a 14-year-old girl. The incident took place in the summer of 2007 and involved a disturbing sequence of events that have left a lasting impact on the victim and her family.

According to court proceedings, Webster lured the young girl into a secluded stable, claiming he wanted to show her an ill pony. The girl, who was only 14 at the time, was unaware of Webster’s true intentions. Instead of the innocent visit she expected, Webster took her to his home in Cherry Burton, East Yorkshire, where he committed the sexual assault. The girl was subjected to this assault in his private residence, an act that has been described as both shocking and despicable.

The crime did not end there. A few months later, Webster sexually assaulted the girl again, further compounding the trauma she endured. The victim, who has since turned 16, bravely gave evidence during the trial, recounting her experience with clarity and courage. She described how Webster had stood behind her, wrapping his arm around her, making her feel extremely uncomfortable. When she asked him to stop, he dismissed her concerns, claiming it was alright, and continued his assault. She recounted her desperate attempts to get him to cease his actions, including shouting for help, but to no avail.

Webster’s arrest came only after the girl, overwhelmed by her distress, broke down during a conversation about sex with her mother. His initial trial ended with a hung jury, but he was retried and convicted of the charges. Throughout the proceedings, Webster maintained his innocence, denying the allegations and accusing the girl of lying. Despite his previous convictions for assault and drink-driving, he had no prior sexual offenses.

Judge Jennifer Kershaw QC sentenced Webster to ten years in prison, emphasizing the severity of his actions. She described him as overbearing and noted the profound trauma inflicted upon the young victim. The judge stated, “You were overbearing towards her. She had faced the physical trauma of what happened to her and confusion about what to do about it, only to be abused again. You have shown not a glimmer of remorse.”

As part of his sentence, Webster will be required to register as a sex offender and pay costs amounting to £3,000. The victim, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, expressed her relief at the conclusion of the trial. She shared her feelings of fear, stress, and frustration over the past two years, but also her hope for moving forward.

In her statement outside court, she said, “I’m relieved it’s over. I never want to see him or have to think about him again. What he did to me was despicable. He is a nasty man. I have thought about this every day for the past two years. It has stopped me doing things I enjoy and has been frustrating and stressful. It has taken such a long time. It has been horrible.” She also urged others who have experienced similar trauma to come forward and seek help, expressing her confidence in her ability to move on and heal from her ordeal.