'It's never too late': Plea to survivors as Carlisle pervert jailed

Serial child abuser Stephen Mahoney, 78, was this week jailed for 31 years and six months for a catalogue of sickening abuse against multiple children, which included at least 255 rapes, 203 indecent assaults and 100 acts of indecency with a child.

He has shown no remorse whatsoever.

Mahoney's crimes, committed in the 1960s and 1970s, had a devastating effect on the victims, Carlisle Crown Court heard. He was finally brought to justice after one of them turned to the police for help.

Judge Michael Fanning told the defendant he will probably die in prison.

After the case concluded at Carlisle Crown Court, Detective Constable Anthony Wheatcroft said that Mahoney initially denied any wrongdoing when he was interviewed, but he ultimately admitted 12 specimen charges.

Given the defendant's lack of remorse, those guilty pleas were his only mitigation. Detective Constable Wheatecroft said: “We hope that this sentencing sends a clear message to survivors of sexual abuse.

“Cumbria Constabulary is committed to thoroughly and compassionately investigating all reports of rape and serious sexual offences, no matter how much time has passed.

"We continue to urge anyone who has been victim of a sexual offence to contact police so that our officers can investigate. You will be supported throughout our investigation.

“Support is available in Cumbria for victims of sexual offences and the Constabulary works closely with trusted partner agencies to provide the appropriate support which is tailored to an individual’s circumstances.”

As he passed sentence, Judge Fanning said Mahoney was the “most prolific sexual offender” he had encountered in a legal career spanning 32 years.

“The sheer volume of your offending and the period over which it was committed says it all,” said the judge.

Mahoney began committing sex offences when he was just 16, though he was an adult when he committed most of the abuse. “You are, or were, a sexually driven deviant serial rapist,” said the judge, observing that the last offending was 45 years ago.

The court then heard moving descriptions of the impact on Mahoney’s victims, the youngest being just four when the abuse began. She later went on to seriously self-harm.

“She saw no point in life,” said Judge Fanning.

This woman suffered lifelong trauma because of Mahoney’s crimes. The defendant abused another victim in a church, leaving her traumatised. Yet another victim deliberately committed crimes so she would be locked up.

She did so in the hope that this would make her safer.

Judge Fanning said: “She told the police [about the abuse] but they didn’t believe her as she was already, by then, getting into trouble with the police.”

Yet another victim recalled how Mahoney told her that his abuse would be “their secret” and that he would kill her if she told anybody – the classic behaviour of a paedophile.

The woman described her life as a “living hell”. The judge told the defendant: "Your abuse of her forged the course of her life – which has been one of misery.

“She reported these matters to the police after trying to kill herself – as a result of the harm you caused to her and which she has lived with for almost 50 years now.”

Judge Fanning remarked on Mahoney’s callousness. 

At no point did the pensioner, recently living at Wishaw, north Lanarkshire, show any remorse; he repeatedly refused to come to court hearings, though it was accepted that his health and mobility are failing.

The judge told Mahoney: “You offended because you wanted to obtain sexual satisfaction then and there… you remain a high risk for sexual and violent offending.”

The earliest date the Parole Board can consider Mahoney for release will be after he has served two thirds of his custodial term - 20 years and 6 months, by which time he will be 99 years old.

“I recognise in your state of health you probably won’t reach that age,” added the judge.

If you have been affected by rape or sexual assault, please contact The Bridgeway Sexual Assault Support Service’s 24/7 free helpline on 0808 118 6432.

If you wish to report to police you can do so online at www.cumbria.police.uk/report-it.

You can also phone on 101. Always phone 999 in an emergency or if a crime is in progress.

Read more: The Bridgeway, a lifeline for Cumbria’s sex crime victims.