STEPHEN BOWDEN SENTENCED IN ST HELENS FOR SEX OFFENCES INVOLVING YOUNG GIRLS

A man identified as Stephen Bowden has been handed a significant prison sentence of 15 years after being convicted of multiple serious sex offences involving three young girls. The crimes, which span several decades, primarily took place in the area of St Helens, where Bowden resided.

Bowden, aged 61 and living on Parbold Avenue in the Blackbrook area, was found guilty of nine separate counts that included charges of rape and indecent assault. These offences date back to the 1970s, a period during which the victims, now adults, endured the trauma inflicted upon them when they were between the ages of six and ten.

During the sentencing hearing at Liverpool Crown Court, the presiding judge, Judge Clement Goldstone, emphasized the long-lasting effects that such abuse can have on victims. One of the women, who testified during the trial, described how the abuse had left her with a profound lack of confidence and ongoing difficulties in trusting others, illustrating the deep psychological scars left by Bowden’s actions.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Goldstone ordered Bowden to register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life, a measure designed to monitor and prevent further offences. The court proceedings shed light on the disturbing nature of the crimes, which were committed when the victims were very young, highlighting the importance of justice and protection for vulnerable individuals in the community of St Helens.