Steven Roy Reddin

A man from Ryde on the Isle of Wight has been imprisoned for a decade following his admission of guilt in a series of historical child sex offences. Steven Roy Reddin, aged 58, of Arundel Close, targeted a young girl, abusing her when she was just nine years old. The offences occurred between 1991 and 1994, spanning several years of repeated abuse.

The victim, now an adult, demonstrated remarkable courage by reporting the incidents to the police in 2019. This led to a thorough investigation by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary. As a result, Reddin was charged with two counts of rape of a girl under 16, gross indecency with a child, inciting a girl under 14 to commit an act of gross indecency, and two counts of indecent assault on a girl.

On 24 May 2021, at Isle of Wight Crown Court, Reddin pleaded guilty to all six offences. He was sentenced on 20 August 2021 at the same court, receiving a ten-year custodial sentence, a lifetime restraining order, and a 15-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order. The court recognised the profound and lasting impact of his actions on the victim.

Detective Constable Gillian Harvey, who led the investigation, commented: "The woman in this case has shown incredible courage in coming forward to report this terrible abuse, which she had kept a secret for many years. The damage that this type of offending causes, and has caused, is indescribable, but this woman’s bravery has ensured that Reddin has been brought to justice. Reddin was fully aware that his actions amounted to abuse of the most horrific kind, yet continued his behaviour without sparing a thought for the impact this would have." This case underscores the importance of victims coming forward, no matter how much time has passed since the abuse.

Source: Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary official news release, published 20 August 2021.