Stefon Winter, a 73-year-old resident of Goatacre, Calne, was sentenced at Swindon Crown Court on 31 July 2024 to a total of 22 years in prison for a series of horrific sexual offences against children committed in the late 1980s. The convictions mark Winter as a serial paedophile with a long history of abusing young victims, aggravated by prior convictions dating back to 1975.
The offences for which Winter was most recently convicted include two counts of indecent assault on a teenager between 1 June 1987 and 12 May 1989, one count of gross indecency with a boy, and two counts of buggery, as determined by a jury on 2 July. Additionally, in March 2024, he was found guilty of two counts of indecent assault by penetration against a five-year-old girl in 1989. Prosecutor Ms Bull detailed the first assault on the girl, describing how Winter, whom the victim initially viewed as a 'friendly, smiley bloke', made inappropriate advances while she was in the bath. The second incident occurred in bed, when Winter placed his hand into her underwear. The victim, who did not disclose the abuse until age 11 when questioned by her mother, later provided a statement to police but saw no charges at the time. In court, she read an impact statement expressing her lifelong trauma, including panic attacks, PTSD, trust issues, and the £2,000 spent on counselling. She addressed Winter directly: 'You are a vile, perverted individual. You exploited my five-year-old self for your own sexual gratification then denied what you had done. You have put me through years of pain, fear and injustice... You stole my childhood innocence and have bullied and belittled me for three decades.' During her testimony, Winter interrupted by shouting 'I am innocent' from the dock.
The second victim, abused at ages 13 and 14, recounted how Winter warned him of 'trouble' if he spoke out, leading to continued abuse after failed attempts to contact Childline. This victim described regressing into isolation, academic decline, and a breakdown at 19 requiring psychiatric hospitalisation, where he experienced paranoia and suicidal ideation. He reported the abuse to police after confiding in his parents, enduring a four-year wait for trial. In his statement, he said: 'The reason I came to court was to stop Stefon from abusing any more children.' Both victims highlighted the decades-long delay in justice, which Judge Townsend attributed to court backlogs, apologising for the wait.
Winter's defence acknowledged his lack of remorse and referenced prior convictions, including a 1975 six-year sentence for rape and a 2021 three-year term (serving 18 months) for indecency offences against two young brothers in 1980. The lawyer noted suspicions of additional unreported crimes but argued Winter no longer posed a risk. Judge Townsend rejected a life sentence, stating the crimes did not meet the threshold, but emphasised Winter's 'entrenched interest' in children and his decision to contest the charges, forcing victims to relive their trauma. An indefinite sexual harm prevention order was imposed, along with indefinite registration on the sex offenders' register. The case was reported by The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald, with images provided by Wiltshire Police.