RHYL MEN STEVEN BOOKER AND NICHOLAS ROBERTS SENTENCED FOR RAPE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT IN SHOCKING CASE

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Rhyl, two men have been convicted and sentenced for heinous sexual offenses committed many years ago. The case, which only came to light after the victims reached adulthood, highlights the long-lasting impact of childhood abuse and the importance of justice.

Steven Booker, now aged 46 and residing on Rhydwen Drive in Rhyl, was sentenced to two years and six months in prison for the rape of a 13-year-old girl. The assault took place in the summer of 1990 when Booker was just 15 years old. The victim, who has been granted lifelong anonymity to protect her identity, reported the incident only after she had grown into adulthood, bringing the case to court after decades of silence.

Alongside Booker, Nicholas Roberts, also aged 46 and living on Cheltenham Avenue in Rhyl, was sentenced to six months imprisonment for indecently assaulting the same girl. Although Roberts was present during the incident, he was acquitted of the charge of raping the girl. Both men appeared in Mold Crown Court to face justice for their actions.

The presiding judge, His Honour Judge David Hale, addressed the defendants directly in the dock, emphasizing the gravity of their crimes committed many years prior. He stated, “I’m going to sentence you for something that you did many years ago, something you hoped would never ever see the light of day, and certainly something you hoped you would never see as a conviction.”

The judge further remarked on the defendants’ awareness of their wrongdoing, saying, “You must have remembered it. You must have been ashamed for what you did to that girl then, when she was 13 and a half. You, Mr Booker, would have been 15 and a quarter. You, Mr Roberts, 15 and a half, playing in the woods on a summer’s day.”

He described Booker’s actions as taking “it upon yourself to have a sexual experience with her,” and highlighted an aggravating factor involving Roberts, who reportedly asked Booker, “Wanna go, Nick?” during the incident.

In sentencing, Booker received a total of two and a half years for the rape, with an additional two six-month concurrent sentences for two separate indecent assaults. Roberts was sentenced to two and a half years for the rape that occurred in a house in Rhyl, along with six months each for indecent assault and sexual assault of a girl under 13. He also received a six-month sentence for inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity, with all sentences running concurrently.

The court also imposed lifelong restraining orders on both men, prohibiting them from contacting their victims. The impact of these crimes on the victims was profound; one victim expressed how the abuse has affected her ability to trust others and form intimate relationships, describing the convictions as “a great weight off her shoulders.” Another victim shared her ongoing struggles with flashbacks and feelings of insecurity, especially in Rhyl.

This case underscores the enduring scars left by childhood sexual abuse and the importance of bringing such offenders to justice, regardless of how many years have passed since the crimes occurred.