STEPHEN WEST FROM STROUD JAILED FOR UNDERAGE SEX IN WORCESTER AND GLOUCESTERSHIRE

In a case that has once again cast a shadow over the West family’s dark history, Stephen West, the son of notorious serial killers Fred and Rosemary West, has been sentenced to nine months in prison for engaging in unlawful sexual activities with a 14-year-old girl.

The offences took place between October 2003 and May 2004 while West was residing in Worcester, a city in Worcestershire. The 31-year-old, who is a builder based in Stroud, Gloucestershire, appeared before Worcester Crown Court to face the charges.

During the hearing, Judge Michael Mott addressed West directly, acknowledging the troubled background that has marked his life. The judge remarked, “You went through an experience when you were younger that no one would wish on anybody. If it’s not unique, it’s in the highest degree unusual.” He further noted, “You had a terrible childhood and the tragedy is that you have done a great deal to live that down.”

Despite recognizing the hardships West endured, the judge emphasized that these circumstances did not justify or excuse his criminal actions. Judge Mott highlighted that West had led a relatively hard-working life, maintaining a clean record with no prior trouble with the law.

The court was told that West was not responsible for the traumatic events of his childhood, and the judge acknowledged the significant impact such experiences could have on a person’s development. However, he made it clear that this was not a valid reason for the offences committed.

In his judgment, Judge Mott stated that West did not appear to have groomed the young girl, and it was evident that she believed she was in love with him. Nevertheless, as an adult, West should have recognized the wrongfulness of their relationship. Instead of taking responsibility, he took the girl to an abortion clinic, an act that the court found particularly troubling.

As part of his sentence, West has been ordered to stay away from his victim until she reaches the age of 16. Additionally, he has been prohibited from contacting her or living in any environment where girls aged 13 to 16 are present.

West denied an additional charge of sexual activity with a child, which has been left on file, meaning it remains unresolved but unproven in court.

Furthermore, he has been banned from working with children for the next five years, a measure intended to prevent any future harm.

The case also brings to mind the tragic history of the West family. Fred West, Stephen’s father, committed suicide at Birmingham Prison on New Year’s Day in 1995 while awaiting trial on charges of murdering 12 young women. Several of his victims were buried beneath the patio at 25 Cromwell Street, a property that has since been demolished.

Rosemary West, Stephen’s mother, was convicted of 10 counts of murder in November 1995 and sentenced to life imprisonment. The West family’s history is further marred by the criminal activities of other relatives, including two cousins of Fred West who had previously been convicted of sex offences. Additionally, Fred’s brother, John West, hanged himself in the garage of his Gloucester home just before a jury was set to deliver its verdict on charges that he had raped young teenage girls. The West family’s dark legacy continues to haunt the community and serve as a grim reminder of the horrors associated with their names.