Clyde Robert Stevens

Clyde Robert Stevens, a 60-year-old married father of four from Leigh, who worked as a court clerk advising magistrates on hundreds of cases, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for a series of sexual offences spanning decades.

The offences began in the 1970s in Bedfordshire, where Stevens sexually abused a young girl on multiple occasions, starting when she was just nine years old. Despite the passage of time, Stevens re-established contact with his victim in 2015 and sexually assaulted her again, prompting her to report the historical and recent abuse to the authorities.

Following the 2015 incident, a police investigation was launched, leading to Stevens' arrest and charges for the nine offences. He was tried and convicted by a jury at Luton Crown Court. The sentencing took place on Friday, March 10, 2023, where the court recognised the predatory and recurring nature of his actions.

Detective Constable Jenny Bryce, involved in the case, stated: “This was a case of sickening and recurring abuse and I am pleased that Stevens has received such a lengthy sentence. This case shows that it is never too late to report abuse. No matter how much time has passed, you will be believed, we will take action and justice will be done. We absolutely will not tolerate any sexual abuse and we are committed to tackling these heinous crimes, supporting the victims and bringing those responsible to justice.”

An NSPCC spokesman commented: “Stevens is a sexual predator with absolutely no remorse about the impact his depraved actions had on his victim in the past or in the present day. He must have thought he had got away with his crimes but, astonishingly, he contacted his victim and resumed his sickening offending. The victim must be praised for her tremendous bravery in coming forward to speak about what happened to her and to bring Stevens’ abuse to an end. We hope she is now receiving the appropriate support and it is entirely right that Stevens is now facing a significant prison term.”

The case, reported by the Leigh Journal, highlights the long-term impact of child sexual abuse and the importance of victims coming forward, even years later. Stevens' position of trust in the legal system made his crimes particularly shocking.