Police detective guilty of repeatedly raping child in ‘sickening’ sexual abuse

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A police detective has been found guilty of repeatedly raping a child, who was just 12 years old when his “sickening” sexual abuse perpetrated over almost a decade began.

Stephen Hardy, 45, who previously served with Greater Manchester Police, was found guilty of all 20 charges, including rape, sexual assault, and causing a child to engage in sexual activity between December 2012 and June 2020.

Jo Palmiero, senior crown prosecutor for CPS North West’s rape and serious sexual abuse unit, said the detective “manipulated and controlled his victim” who was just 12 when the sexual abuse started.

Hardy, of Mottram, Tameside, had denied there had been any sexual contact between him and the child and pleaded not guilty to all charges. He was found guilty following a four-week trial at Liverpool Crown Court.

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.”

They added: “I would like to commend the victim for reporting the abuse and supporting the prosecution.”

Detective Sergeant Abigail Thomas, who led the Greater Manchester Police investigation into Hardy, said: “Stephen Hardy has been exposed as a manipulative individual who committed abhorrent offences over a significant period of time. His behaviour and actions go against everything we stand for within policing.”

Hardy was found guilty of four counts of rape, two counts of possession of extreme pornography, two counts of making or taking an indecent image of a child, as well as two counts of causing or inciting a girl aged over 13 to take part in sexual activity. He was also found guilty of one count of causing a child to watch an image of a sexual act, five counts of sexual assault, three counts of assault by penetration, and one count of causing a girl aged over 13 to take part in sexual activity.

Hardy will be sentenced on 11 September.