Wellingborough man jailed for sexually assaulting two young women
The 61-year-old abused one of the victims for at least three years.
A man who repeatedly sexually assaulted two young women has been sentenced to more than three years in jail.
In 2021, a woman contacted Northamptonshire Police to report that Stuart Harris, aged 61, had been abusing her for more than 10 years.
Officers visited the victim, who disclosed how Harris had begun sexually assaulting her when she was a teenager, touching her inappropriately when they were alone despite her telling him to stop, and using threats to prevent her from telling anyone about his ongoing abuse.
Through the subsequent investigation a second victim was identified, who recounted how Harris had also sexually abused her for at least three years.
Harris was arrested and went on to be charged with multiple sexual offences against the two women.
He denied the charges, but following a trial at Northampton Crown Court which he failed to attend, on May 29 Harris was found guilty on three counts of sexual abuse of a female aged 16 or over.
At the same court on September 10, Harris, of Bourton Way, Wellingborough, was sentenced to three years and six months’ imprisonment in his absence, after he again failed to appear.
He was placed on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely and ordered to pay a victim surcharge.
Speaking afterwards, investigating officer DC Fay Maskell of CID North, said: “Stuart Harris is a predatory sexual offender, who took advantage of a position of trust to repeatedly abuse two young women, using threats to ensure their silence for many years.
“I am so pleased that despite Harris’ efforts to control them, both survivors were able to bravely find their voices and by speaking up, have ensured he has been recognised by a jury as the abuser that he is.
“The courage and composure of both women in reporting Harris, and seeing the case through trial, is commendable and I wish them both every happiness as they continue to heal from the trauma they have survived.
“Harris is now a wanted man, a convicted sex offender, and we are working hard to bring him into custody to serve his sentence. My message to him is that justice has already caught up with him, and so will we.”