CHESTERTON CHILD RAPIST STEPHEN HARBEN SENTENCED TO EIGHT YEARS IN PRISON

In August 2003, a disturbing case emerged from Cambridge involving a local man named Stephen Harben, a 42-year-old cleaner residing on Ashfield Road in Chesterton. Harben was convicted of heinous crimes involving the sexual abuse of a young girl and was subsequently sentenced to eight years in prison.

The charges against Harben stemmed from a series of appalling acts of sexual violence committed against a 10-year-old girl. The court heard that Harben had raped the young girl on three separate occasions, acts which were described by the presiding judge as “appalling sexual abuse.” The severity of the crimes was compounded by the fact that Harben recorded the assaults on video, a detail that underscored the premeditated nature of his actions.

The investigation into the case was triggered when a relative of Harben discovered the videos depicting the assaults. This discovery led to police involvement and a subsequent arrest. During police interviews, Harben did not deny the allegations; instead, he admitted to the rapes, acknowledging his guilt in the matter. His admissions came during a police interview where he confessed to the three counts of rape and two counts of indecent assault, which he had previously pleaded guilty to in an earlier court hearing.

Throughout the court proceedings, Harben appeared visibly distressed, crying and shaking in the dock as the gravity of his actions was laid bare. The judge, Jonathan Haworth, delivered a stern sentence, emphasizing the deliberate nature of Harben’s crimes. The judge stated, “You acted quite deliberately and you recorded your abuse on video, indicating forethought.” He further highlighted the breach of trust involved, noting that the victim was a young child and that Harben was in a position of responsibility and trust.

Judge Haworth also expressed the importance of societal condemnation, stating, “I have to punish you and mark the public abhorrence of this offence.” As a result, Harben was sentenced to eight years in prison and was ordered to register as a sex offender for life. The court’s decision reflected the seriousness of the crimes and the need to protect the community from individuals like Harben.

Following the sentencing, the victim’s parents voiced their profound anguish. Her father remarked that while Harben’s sentence was eight years, it could never compensate for the pain inflicted on their daughter. He said, “I think eight years is not long enough for him, my daughter has got to live with what has happened for the rest of her life — he’s been given a specific sentence.” Her mother added, “I will never trust anyone again. What happened to my girl has affected her in so many ways.” The case left a lasting impact on the family and the community of Chesterton, highlighting the importance of vigilance and justice in protecting vulnerable children from such predatory behavior.