A sex offender from Medway, who repeatedly targeted a vulnerable child, has received 17 years’ imprisonment following a trial at Maidstone Crown Court.
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Stephen Pyle was living in Chatham in 1998 and encouraged young children to visit his address when they played truant from school. Alcohol and drugs were available at the property and Pyle started to groom one of youngsters. He gave them massages that over time become increasingly indecent.
He went on to commit multiple sexual offences against a child over a two-year period however in 2017, the victim disclosed the sexual abuse they had suffered to a third party, who then contacted the police.
Police investigators gained an account from the victim, and Pyle was arrested on 2 November.
Officers also seized a desktop computer that was forensically examined. It was found to contain 17 indecent images of children, of which three were the most serious category. Pyle was arrested again once the images were located. At this point a laptop computer was also recovered on which investigators located a further 34 illegal images of children. Five of these were of the most serious category.
Pyle from Chatham, was later charged with rape of a child, four counts of indecent assault and five counts of making indecent photographs of a child. He pleaded not guilty and was convicted on all counts following a trial at Maidstone Crown Court.
On Monday 9 September 2024, the 66-year-old was sentenced to a total of 17 years’ imprisonment.
When he is released, Pyle will be the subject of an extended licence period of four years. A Sexual Harm Prevention Order will also be imposed indefinitely.
Detective Constable Nick Pebody, of the Medway Vulnerability Investigation Team, said:
‘The victim has had to live with the memory of the abuse they suffered for several years until they disclosed it to a trusted person and then got in contact with the police. The victim and witnesses were then put through the ordeal of a trial as Pyle refused to admit his guilt. He truly is a depraved and cowardly individual.
‘This predator has been jailed and I hope the sentence will encourage anyone who has suffered sexual abuse recently or in the past to contact us. We have specially trained officers who will listen to your account sensitively and will then take steps to bring those responsible for these crimes to justice.’