TADWORTH MAN GUILTY OF 40 COUNTS OF HISTORIC SEXUAL ABUSE AGAINST 15 CHILDREN OVER 50 YEARS

A man from Tadworth, who previously served as a police officer and later worked as a football coach, has been convicted on 40 counts related to the sexual abuse of 15 children over a period of five decades. Stephen Henry Walker, aged 68 and formerly residing on Chipstead Lane in Lower Kingswood, Tadworth, was found guilty of multiple sexual offences—including assault, gross indecency, incitement, attempted buggery, and buggery—after two trials at Croydon Crown Court that concluded on March 30. The criminal investigation was initiated when one of the victims came forward in March 2018. Police investigations revealed that Walker had a significant sexual interest in children, particularly boys, although two of his victims were girls. Walker, who at one stage worked briefly as a Metropolitan Police officer and also served as a youth football coach, took advantage of his roles to gain access to children, some of whom were socially connected through family friends. Most of the abuse occurred in Surrey. It was later uncovered that Walker fled to Malta amid the allegations, where he lived under a false identity until his return to the UK in October 2019, when he was arrested on suspicion of child sex offences. Detective Inspector Paddy Mayers described Walker as a "vile sexual predator" who abused his authority to manipulate and harm children for personal pleasure. His offending history spans from the late 1960s until 2007 and includes various sexual crimes. The abuse took place both within Surrey and internationally, with authorities highlighting the prolonged and extensive nature of his offending. Walker’s arrest and subsequent conviction mark a notable step toward justice for the victims, with officials acknowledging the courage of those who testified and shared their experiences, despite the emotional toll of recounting such trauma.