SOLIHULL MAN STEVEN PERRY KIDNAPS AND ATTACKS VULNERABLE SCHOOLGIRL IN EAST SUSSEX

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community, Steven Perry, a 64-year-old resident of Solihull, was sentenced to six years in prison after being found guilty of serious crimes involving a young girl. The incident took place in June 2020, but the repercussions and legal proceedings have only recently culminated in Perry's conviction.

According to court reports, Perry targeted a 14-year-old girl who was alone in Hastings town centre, East Sussex. He approached her under the guise of offering assistance, which was a calculated ruse to gain her trust. Once he had her attention, Perry forcibly took her to an address in nearby Bexhill, where he committed a sexual assault. The assault was part of a series of criminal acts that included kidnapping and false imprisonment, all committed against a vulnerable minor.

The Brighton Crown Court heard that police were alerted to the suspicious activity around midnight on Saturday, June 27, 2020. Witnesses reported seeing a teenage girl being followed by a man in a white vehicle in the Gorselands area of Bexhill. The girl was observed entering the vehicle, which then drove away from the scene. Authorities responded swiftly to these reports, launching an immediate investigation.

Law enforcement officers managed to track down the suspect vehicle and Perry himself to a bungalow on Withyham Road, Cooden, Bexhill. The property was identified as the residence of a relative where Perry was staying at the time. Although the victim was not present at the bungalow during the police raid, she was later located safe and sound at her family’s address.

Following his arrest and subsequent trial, Perry was convicted on multiple charges, including false imprisonment, kidnapping with intent to commit a sexual offence, and sexual assault. As part of his sentencing, Perry will be registered as a sex offender indefinitely, a measure designed to monitor and restrict his activities to protect the public. Additionally, he was issued a Sexual Harm Prevention Order that severely limits his access to children until further notice from the court.

Furthermore, Perry is subject to a ten-year Restraining Order, which prohibits him from making any contact with the victim or witnesses involved in the case. The court’s decision underscores the severity of his crimes and the ongoing concern for community safety, especially for vulnerable minors in the Solihull and East Sussex areas.