KEIGHLEY SEX OFFENDER STEVEN BANNER JAILED FOR ABUSING 7-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN CUMBRIA AND KEIGHLEY
In a disturbing case that has shocked the community, Steven Banner, a man with a troubling history of sexual offenses, has been sentenced to over eight years in prison for heinous crimes committed against a young girl.Banner, who previously resided in Keighley and is now living in Anthorn, Cumbria as of July 2022, was found guilty of multiple serious offenses involving a seven-year-old girl from Keighley.
The court heard that Banner, aged 36 at the time of sentencing, had a disturbing collection of child abuse images stored on his laptop, including 29 child exploitation pictures and five indecent video clips.
His device also contained approximately 300 photographs of young teenagers taken from the window of his house, indicating a pattern of voyeuristic behavior.
Banner had previously worked with organizations such as the Scouts and St John Ambulance, roles that are meant to promote trust and safety but were exploited in this case.
The allegations against Banner came to light when the young girl confided in a relative, revealing that she and Banner shared a “really big secret.” She told her relative that Banner had warned her not to tell anyone or he would go to jail, which prompted her mother to contact Social Services.
Authorities swiftly involved the police, leading to Banner’s arrest.
During police interviews, Banner claimed he was “in shock” and denied any wrongdoing, but investigators uncovered evidence that contradicted his statements.
Detectives discovered the indecent images on his computer, and a photograph depicting the rape was linked to a duvet cover in Banner’s possession.
Prosecutor Tom Storey explained that although the girl did not explicitly describe being raped, the photographic evidence confirmed that such abuse had occurred.
The girl’s age at the time of the abuse was between five and seven years old, making the offenses particularly egregious.
Banner pleaded guilty to one count of rape, three counts of sexual assault, and seven counts of making and possessing indecent images of children.
His guilty plea spared the young victim from having to give evidence in court, which was acknowledged by his defense lawyer, Sophie Drake.
Judge David Hatton QC described Banner’s actions as “a course of serious sexual abuse” against a vulnerable young girl.
He sentenced Banner to eight years in prison for the rape and sexual assault charges, with an additional four months to be served consecutively for the possession of indecent images.
Furthermore, the judge imposed an indefinite Sexual Offences Prevention Order and mandated that Banner register as a sex offender for life.
Following the sentencing, Detective Sergeant Ian Mitchell of the Bradford Child and Public Protection Unit emphasized the bravery of the young victim, stating, “The victim in this case is a seven-year-old child who has shown immense bravery throughout this investigation.
The sentence passed today by the judge clearly reflects the seriousness of his offending.”
