BUGLE MAN STEVEN CRUMP SENTENCED TO 18 YEARS FOR RAPE AND CHILD ABUSE IN BUGLE

In a harrowing case that has shocked the community of Bugle, Steven Crump, aged 38, has been sentenced to a total of 18 years in prison after being found guilty of multiple serious charges involving the sexual abuse and cruelty of a young girl. The sentencing took place at Truro Crown Court, where the court heard the full extent of Crump’s heinous actions and the impact they had on his victim.

Judge Christopher Harvey Clarke, QC, delivered a stark condemnation of Crump’s conduct, drawing a disturbing comparison to the infamous Victorian schoolmaster Wackford Squeers from Charles Dickens’ novel Nicholas Nickleby. The judge described Crump’s treatment of his victim as callous and reminiscent of the most brutal and oppressive figures from Victorian literature, emphasizing the severity of his crimes.

Crump, who resides on Fore Street in Bugle, faced a jury after a lengthy trial that concluded with a guilty verdict on all 13 charges he faced. The court was told that Crump’s abuse began when the girl was under 16, spanning from 1998 to 2002. During this period, he committed seven counts of rape and two counts of indecent assault, acts that the victim described as occurring on numerous occasions. The girl, whose identity remains protected for legal reasons, recounted the repeated assaults and the profound trauma inflicted upon her.

The prosecution revealed that Crump’s abuse extended beyond sexual assault. He also faced charges of indecently assaulting another young teenage girl, as well as charges of willful assault and ill-treatment of another child. The jury, composed of eight women and three men, deliberated briefly before unanimously finding Crump guilty on all counts.

Throughout the trial, the defense, led by Rupert Taylor, argued that Crump did not accept the allegations and urged the court to impose a sentence that would leave some hope for the offender’s future. Taylor stated, “We invite your honour to impose a sentence that will not extinguish all hope for this man. He will have to be in custody for a long time. He understands that. He does not accept these offences.”

However, the judge was unequivocal in his condemnation. He highlighted the cruelty of Crump’s actions, particularly noting the victim’s pregnancy resulting from the abuse. Evidence presented during the trial indicated that Crump had encouraged the girl to become pregnant, even purchasing two pregnancy tests. The girl confided in her mother, claiming that a boy from school was the father, and subsequently underwent an abortion. The prosecution’s case detailed how Crump told the girl she was a murderer for having the abortion and falsely accused her of murdering his child, further adding to her emotional trauma.

Judge Clarke expressed his outrage at Crump’s hypocrisy and cruelty, stating, “Your disgusting hypocrisy on that issue is almost unbelievable … She has no confidence in sexual matters. She has become emotionally hard and reserved as a result of what you did to her.”

In light of the evidence and the gravity of the crimes, the judge sentenced Crump to 15 years for each of the rape counts, and three years for each of the other charges, culminating in a total prison term of 18 years. The sentence reflects the court’s recognition of the profound harm inflicted upon the victims and the need for justice to be served in this disturbing case from Bugle.