BOREHAMWOOD MAN STEPHEN CHALKLEY JAILED FOR SEXUAL CALLS TO GIRL, 11, IN MILL HILL AND BOREHAMWOOD

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the communities of Mill Hill and Borehamwood, Stephen Maurice Chalkley, aged 23, was sentenced to a total of three years in prison at Harrow Crown Court last week. Chalkley, a resident of Balmoral Drive in Borehamwood, had admitted to making hundreds of telephone calls to young women, including an 11-year-old girl, during which he engaged in highly inappropriate and sexually explicit conversations.

The incident that led to his conviction occurred on December 22 of the previous year, when Chalkley contacted the young girl and persuaded her to go into her room and examine herself. Prosecutor Alan Jenkins described the call, stating, "It was clear he was asking her to simulate sex. It was quite evident he was masturbating during that phone call." The girl was understandably shocked and distressed by the experience, and she promptly reported the incident to the police.

During sentencing, Judge Roger Sanders condemned Chalkley's actions, describing them as a "revolting indecent assault by telephone." He emphasized that the offences were both "shocking" and "degrading" to the victims, many of whom were vulnerable young girls. Police investigations revealed that Chalkley’s phone bills showed an alarming pattern of activity, with police seizing records indicating he made 220 calls on a single day in November and an astonishing 374 calls on a day in December.

Chalkley's offending was not limited to young girls. The court heard that he had also targeted a housewife, a former girlfriend, and a 20-year-old woman, whom he questioned about smear tests. Additionally, he visited a Bosnian refugee in Borehamwood on June 26 of the previous year, where he spent 15 minutes examining her breasts before fabricating a hospital appointment. The victim, who spoke limited English, was distressed by the incident and believed there was something wrong with her breasts, adding to her trauma.

Judge Sanders remarked on the unpredictable long-term effects of Chalkley's conduct, noting that many would consider his sentence too lenient given the severity of his actions. Chalkley was arrested on January 13 at his then-girlfriend’s residence in Blackhorse Lane, South Mimms. During the arrest, police seized the incriminating telephone bills. Chalkley confessed to police that he had been making these calls for five years, using a mobile phone with an unlisted number, describing his behavior as a "habit" and likening it to a drug he could not stop.

His defense lawyer, Elaine McLaughlin, revealed that Chalkley had been sexually abused as a child and that his compulsion to make crank calls began after he could no longer afford to pay for sex chat lines. She argued that he was seeking satisfaction and that his actions were driven by a psychological need rather than malicious intent. The judge, however, assured the public that law enforcement agencies possess the necessary resources and authority to track down unlisted crank callers like Chalkley, promising that offenders would be caught.

As part of his sentence, Chalkley was placed on the national sex offender register. The judge expressed hope that he would undergo treatment for his sexual issues during his incarceration, aiming for a possible cure of his "perverted practices." He was sentenced to 30 months for the indecent assault on the Bosnian woman, two years for causing a public nuisance, and three years for the calls to the 11-year-old girl, with all sentences to run concurrently.

At the time of the calls, a spokeswoman for West Hertfordshire Health Authority issued a warning to the public, emphasizing that genuine medical professionals do not typically call patients unexpectedly. She advised residents to be cautious if they receive such calls, underscoring the importance of vigilance against fraudulent practices.