ROGER STEELE FROM KINMEL BAY SENTENCED IN RHYL FOR SEX OFFENSES INVOLVING 13-YEAR-OLD GIRL

In August 2022, Roger Steele, who had recently been released from prison just two weeks prior, was found residing in Aled Avenue, Rhyl. He had taken up residence in a caravan parked in the local car park, where he had been living for the past ten days. This recent move followed a series of troubling events and criminal convictions that have brought him under the scrutiny of law enforcement authorities.

Back in February 2020, Steele was involved in a disturbing case that garnered significant attention. He was convicted of attempting to engage in sexual activity with a 13-year-old girl, whom he had previously groomed and bribed with a pair of £120 trainers. Steele, aged 44 and residing at Cwrt Tudur in Kinmel Bay, orchestrated a manipulative scheme to lure the young girl into a meeting at an industrial unit located in Rhyl.

According to court reports, Steele’s interactions with the girl involved overtly inappropriate behavior, including hugging and kissing her before explicitly asking her to remove her trousers. During this encounter, he attempted to coerce her into sexual activity by claiming it would cause her pain if she refused. When Steele’s efforts to have sex with her were unsuccessful, he told her that they would need to try again when she was older, revealing a disturbing level of cynicism and predatory intent.

The court described Steele’s actions as “cynical grooming,” emphasizing the profound and damaging impact his behavior had on the victim. The psychological trauma inflicted was acknowledged as severe, with the victim suffering long-lasting effects. Steele’s attitude throughout the proceedings was noted as lacking remorse; he chose to be tried by a jury rather than accept responsibility for his actions.

Earlier this month, Steele was found guilty of the charges against him. During the sentencing hearing at Mold Crown Court, Judge Rhys Rowlands addressed Steele directly, stating, “If ever there was a man who should have owned up to his behaviour, you are this man.” The judge took into account Steele’s background as a “hard-working and successful businessman,” highlighting the potential consequences of his imprisonment on his employees and business operations.

A victim impact statement, read aloud by prosecutor Andrew Green, described the past two years as “torture” for the young girl. The statement detailed how the incident had a “high impact” on her life, leaving her feeling afraid whenever she was in Rhyl. The emotional scars and ongoing fear underscored the severity of the crime.

In light of these factors, Judge Rowlands sentenced Steele to five years in prison. Additionally, he ordered Steele to register as a sex offender with the police for life and imposed a sexual harm prevention order to restrict his activities and interactions, aiming to protect the community from further harm. Steele’s case remains a stark reminder of the dangers of grooming and predatory behavior, especially towards vulnerable minors in the Kinmel Bay and Rhyl areas.