A disgraced detective from Manchester in the United Kingdom has been found guilty of repeatedly raping and abusing a girl since she was 12 years old.
Stephen Hardy, 46, is from the Tameside borough of the Manchester area and worked with the police force in the Stockport area. The now teenage girl had been sexually abused by Hardy for close to a decade.
During the trial, Judge Robert Trevor-Hones told Hardy, "You know more than anyone else perhaps in this situation the type of sentence you face." Hardy had 20 charges against him, including multiple counts of rape, sexual assault, and causing a child to engage in sexual activity.
Hardy pled not guilty to all charges prior to the verdict. Following a four-week trial, the jury found Hardy guilty of all 20.
Senior Crown Prosecutor Jo Palmiero said, "Stephen Hardy gained the trust of the child before subjecting them to sickening sexual abuse, with no thought for the lasting damage his abuse would cause. Hardy was a police officer, in a position of trust, who manipulated and controlled his victim."
Jurors were told that in addition to the charges, some of the sexual abuse involved urination. The victim had been concerned to tell anyone because of Hardy's role as a detective.
The investigation into Hardy began in June of 2020 following a disclosure of his abusive behavior. He was suspended from the force after charges arose from the evidence that was gathered.
Sergeant Abigail Thomas, who led the investigation into Hardy, said, "Stephen Hardy has been exposed as a manipulative individual who committed abhorrent offenses over a significant period of time. His behavior and actions go against everything we stand for within policing."
Thomas went on in explaining that violence and sexual abuse of women and girls is "one of the Force’s top priorities." She emphasized that if anyone in the organization is abusing their position they will face consequences.
Hardy will be sentenced on Sept. 11 and be registered as a sex offender.
