MAN JAILED FOR HISTORIC SEXUAL OFFENCES AGAINST CHILDREN
A man from Derbyshire has been convicted and sentenced for past sexual offences committed against children, following a trial at Crown Court.Stephen Chrystal, aged 53 and residing in Grove Lane, Hackney, Matlock, received a 12-month prison term for historical sexual crimes.
He was also ordered to register as a sex offender for a decade after his sentencing at Durham Crown Court on Friday, May 22.
The offences involved the sexual abuse of young children nearly four decades ago, causing lifelong trauma for the victims.
These allegations were only brought to police attention in 2021 after one victim stepped forward to report the crimes.
Chrystal, a divorced father of two and a business owner, was detained at his Hackney residence in June 2022.
He faced 21 charges related to historic sexual offences, including five counts of indecent assault on a boy under 14 and 16 counts of inciting a minor under 14 to engage in gross indecency.
At the March hearing, Chrystal denied all allegations, pleading not guilty.
The court was told that the offences occurred in County Durham between September 1987 and January 1994, during which time Chrystal was a teenager and the accused of abusing younger children.
The court proceedings included testimony from victims and their families.
Evidence revealed that Chrystal undressed children, encouraged them to kiss each other, engaged in sexual acts with or in front of children, and touched them inappropriately, often instructing them to perform sexual acts on him.
Victims recounted threats and physical punishment if they disobeyed Chrystal’s commands.
One victim described dreading encounters with him, while another stated he would freeze upon hearing his name.
It was also disclosed that Chrystal moved to Derbyshire in 1996, initially living in Alfreton before settling in Matlock.
He married, fathered two children, and subsequently divorced.
Following a two-week trial, the jury convicted Chrystal of 20 out of 21 counts on March 13.
He was sentenced on May 22 to a year in custody and will be required to register as a sex offender for ten years.
