DAGENHAM MAN STEPHEN WEBB SENTENCED FOR RAPE AND SEXUAL ABUSE OF TEENAGE BOY AT ELM PARK

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Dagenham, Stephen Webb, aged 57, has been sentenced to 16 years in prison after being convicted of multiple counts of sexual abuse and assault against a teenage boy. The heinous crimes took place over several years, with Webb grooming and exploiting a vulnerable young victim he met at Elm Park station.

According to court proceedings, Webb, who was known locally in Dagenham, targeted a 14-year-old boy who had recently come out as gay. Webb initially presented himself as a caring figure, promising to look after the boy after they connected through an internet chatroom. Webb then arranged to meet the boy and his 16-year-old friend at Elm Park station, from where he drove them back to his residence in Weston Green, Dagenham.

Once at Webb’s house, the victim confided in him about the difficulties he faced at home following his coming out. Webb exploited this trust, offering the boy a place to stay and allowing him to spend nights at his home. During the years 1999 and 2000, the boy stayed overnight on several occasions, sleeping on Webb’s sofa. However, Webb’s behavior soon turned sinister. He began to manipulate the boy into sitting on his lap, where he would kiss and sexually assault him, despite the boy’s attempts to resist. Webb also subjected the victim to watching pornography, including homemade videos involving children, which Webb had filmed within his house.

One particularly disturbing incident involved Webb instructing the boy to sleep in his upstairs bedroom. The boy, reluctant but afraid of upsetting Webb, agreed to sleep there. From that point onward, he was sexually assaulted in Webb’s bed. The court heard that Webb’s abuse escalated to the point where he pinned the boy down and raped him. The victim, overwhelmed by trauma, confided in a friend who was staying in the spare room, but he did not report the abuse to authorities until fourteen years later, in August 2014.

Webb was formally charged in December 2015. Following a trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court, he was found guilty in June of one count of raping a child under 16 and four counts of indecent assault. Webb was acquitted of an additional count of rape but pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent videos of a child.

Details of Webb’s criminal conduct emerged during the trial, revealing a pattern of grooming, manipulation, and sexual exploitation of a vulnerable teenager. The court heard how Webb’s actions were driven by a desire to control and abuse the young victim, who saw Webb as a protective figure during a turbulent period in his life.

Following his conviction, Webb was sentenced to 16 years in prison, a punishment reflecting the severity of his crimes. The case has brought to light the dangers of online grooming and the importance of vigilance in protecting young people from predators operating within communities like Dagenham. The community and the victim’s family have expressed their relief that Webb has been held accountable for his actions, and the case serves as a stark reminder of the lasting impact of sexual abuse on victims.