'Depraved' Fareham child rapist jailed for 24 years for abusing three girls

A 'DEPRAVED' child rapist has been jailed for 24 years.
By Ben Fishwick
Published 14th Jan 2020, 14:10 BST
Updated 21st Jan 2020, 15:23 BST
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Steven Ward, 43, was convicted at Portsmouth Crown Court of 15 rape charges and five counts of sexual assaults against a child and one sexual assault.

Ward, of Chartwell Close, Fareham, abused three girls between 2006 and 2017.

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Ward pleaded guilty to one count of sexual activity with a child.

Steven Ward, 43, of Chartwell Close, Fareham, was found guilty of 14 counts of rape and seven sexual assaults between 2006 and 2017. Picture: Hampshire policeSteven Ward, 43, of Chartwell Close, Fareham, was found guilty of 14 counts of rape and seven sexual assaults between 2006 and 2017. Picture: Hampshire police
Steven Ward, 43, of Chartwell Close, Fareham, was found guilty of 14 counts of rape and seven sexual assaults between 2006 and 2017. Picture: Hampshire police

The jury found him not guilty of one count of sexual activity with a child and one count of rape.

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Yesterday Ward was jailed after a trial last year.

Det Con Marie Duffy said: ‘I would like to thank the victims for their bravery in coming forward and trusting us enough to tell us what had happened to them.

'Without their courage this depraved man would not be behind bars today.

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‘I hope that today’s conviction and jail sentence gives others who have suffered abuse of this nature the confidence to report it to police.

‘We will always take these sorts of allegations extremely seriously, and wholeheartedly commend the courage it takes to speak out many years after incidents have happened.’