STEPHEN MAHONEY FROM LANARKSHIRE SENTENCED TO OVER 30 YEARS FOR HISTORIC CHILD SEX OFFENCES IN CARLISLE

A man from Lanarkshire, Stephen Mahoney, has been sentenced to more than three decades behind bars after a lengthy investigation uncovered a staggering catalogue of child sex offences committed over a span of nearly 50 years. The 78-year-old, who previously resided in Wishaw, Glasgow, was found guilty of a series of heinous crimes that took place during his time living in Carlisle, Cumbria.

Mahoney faced a court in Carlisle where he admitted to 12 sample charges, which included multiple counts of child rape and indecent assaults against four different victims. The judge described him as the most prolific sex offender he had encountered in his 32 years of legal service. The court heard that Mahoney’s offending history stretched back to the 1970s, with hundreds of indecent assaults and rapes committed over a period of 17 years. His criminal activities only came to light after a victim contacted the police in June 2020, leading to a detailed investigation that uncovered nearly 560 separate offences.

Among the crimes revealed were at least 255 rapes, 203 indecent assaults, and 100 acts of indecency involving children. The youngest victim was just four or five years old. The court was told that Mahoney’s criminal conduct was not a fleeting phase of youthful curiosity but a pattern of predatory behavior driven by sexual deviance. The judge emphasized the severity and scale of Mahoney’s crimes, stating, “You are certainly the most prolific sexual offender I have encountered in my 32 years in the law. The sheer volume of your offending and the period over which it was committed says it all.”

During the sentencing hearing, the judge also acknowledged the profound impact on the victims, whose lives had been forever altered by Mahoney’s actions. Victims’ statements described lives haunted by fear and shame, with many suffering long-term psychological scars. The court was told that Mahoney’s victims lived in constant fear of him, and his continued presence posed a high risk of further sexual and violent offending.

At the time of his arrest, Mahoney was living at Glen Road, Wishaw, Glasgow. His defense lawyer, Jeff Smith, argued that Mahoney was aware of the inevitable consequences of his actions. The delay in sentencing was due to the need for background reports to assess Mahoney’s medical needs before he was sentenced. Mahoney appeared via video link from Durham Prison, dressed in slippers, a dressing gown, and pyjamas, and claimed not to understand the proceedings.

Judge Fanning sentenced Mahoney to a fixed term of 31 years and six months, with an additional two-year extension period. The judge made it clear that Mahoney would spend the rest of his life in prison, reflecting the gravity of his crimes and the danger he posed to society. The court’s decision underscores the seriousness with which the justice system treats such heinous offences, especially those committed over decades and involving vulnerable children.