STEPHEN BAILEY FROM WELWYN GARDEN CITY SENTENCED TO 18 YEARS FOR SEXUAL OFFENCES AND ABUSE
In a case that has shocked the community of Welwyn Garden City, Stephen Bailey, aged 48, has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term of 18 years following his conviction on multiple serious charges, including rape, sexual activity with a minor, and actual bodily harm (ABH).The sentencing took place at St Albans Crown Court, where Judge Michael Baker delivered the verdict and imposed the sentence, which includes a public protection order.
This order mandates that Bailey will remain under supervision by probation authorities for an extended period after his release from prison, reflecting the severity of his crimes and the perceived ongoing risk he poses to society.
Bailey, who is known locally as a market trader and property developer, was taken into custody after the conclusion of the trial.
Throughout the proceedings, he maintained his innocence, vociferously protesting his guilt as he was led away from the court cells to begin serving his sentence.
During his final remarks, Bailey claimed there was no concrete evidence against him, asserting, “There was no proof.
It was all hearsay.
The police bullied her [the victim] for 40 minutes to make her come to court.
There is no proof at all.” The case centered around allegations involving a teenage girl, who cannot be identified due to legal restrictions.
The court heard that the girl, who was 16 at the time, became pregnant during a period when Bailey was abusing her.
Upon discovering her pregnancy, Bailey, fearing that the child was his, persuaded the girl to travel abroad for an abortion, as she had passed the legal window for termination in the UK.
However, the trip did not result in an abortion, as the pair returned to the UK without completing the procedure.
Bailey claimed that the girl fabricated the entire story, and evidence was presented indicating she was a disruptive student at her school.
Despite this, the judge acknowledged that she may have exaggerated some details but affirmed that the core allegations of abuse and coercion were substantiated.
Judge Baker emphasized that Bailey, who has a prior criminal record, though not for sexual offences, posed a significant risk to women he might encounter in the future.
He stated, “You tried to get her to have an abortion, taking her abroad when you realised it was unlawful to have a termination here.
I have concluded that you pose a significant risk of causing serious harm to any girl or woman you may form some kind of attraction to.” He also highlighted Bailey’s manipulative and aggressive conduct during the trial, noting his irrational behavior and the report from probation that supported these observations.
Although Bailey has no previous sexual offence convictions, his history of violence and aggressive tendencies contributed to the severity of his sentence.
Additionally, Bailey’s time spent in custody on remand—506 days—was ordered to be counted towards his sentence.
Upon release, he will be required to register as a sex offender for life and is prohibited from working with children.
A sexual offences prevention order was also issued, explicitly forbidding any contact with the victim.
Furthermore, the court ordered an investigation into Bailey’s financial affairs to recover costs associated with the trial, which was highly contested and lengthy.
The case has left a lasting impact on the local community, raising concerns about safety and the protection of vulnerable individuals from predatory behavior.
