Colchester: Man jailed for 25 years for multiple sexual offences

A man has been jailed for 25 years after being found guilty of many sexual offences, including multiple counts of rape thanks to work by our officers.

Stephen Gallagher, 59 of Normandy Avenue, Colchester appeared at Ipswich Crown Court today (11 December) where he was sentenced, concluding a complex investigation by Essex Police’s Child Abuse Investigation Team.

The investigation was launched in 2016 when Essex Police received a report from a woman, who reported that she had been sexually abused multiple times when she was a child by Gallagher.

Following the initial enquiries, more victims bravely contacted Essex Police to report that Gallagher had sexually abused them as children.

Enquiries revealed that Gallagher attempted to financially and emotionally manipulate the victims.

Following Gallagher’s arrest in 2016, he denied all allegations and tried to accuse the victims of lying. He was later charged with multiple offences.

Following a trial at Ipswich Crown Court, on Thursday, 30 May Gallagher was found guilty of 10 offences including two counts of sexual assault, three counts of rape, two counts of sexual activity with a child, two counts of indecent assault, and one count of sexual assault.
Today, he appeared via video link where he was sentenced to 25 years. An indefinite restraining order has been issued for all victims.

The judge commented Gallagher abused his victims, for his own pleasure and gratification and continues to deny his offending.

The effects of these offences on the victims are severe and will last a lifetime.

She commended the victims for their bravery and patience through the criminal justice system.

Detective Sergeant Carol Astbury, investigating officer in the case said:

“These victims have waited eight years since reporting to get justice and hold Gallagher accountable.

“The trial was postponed twice and sentencing adjourned three times however the victims remained patient and strong.

“One victim was present in court and bravely read with passion the effects these offences have had on her, she explained she felt she was the one serving a prison sentence and that despite the guilty verdict she still has no answers as the defendant continues to deny the offences.

“Whilst the damage Gallagher has caused cannot be reversed, I hope that today’s sentence allows these victims to move forward and that they take some solace in the fact that he cannot harm anyone else.

“The victims have thanked former Detective Sergeant Colin Parker, who led this investigation prior to his retirement. DS Parker made the effort to attend the court during the trial and sentencing due to his commitment to the victims in this case.

“His commitment and care demonstrates the compassion of our officers across our force, who want to keep people safe.”

Synergy Essex offers independent and specialised services for individuals who have experienced rape or sexual abuse in Essex.

Synergy Essex is a partnership of three services; Centre for Action on Rape and Abuse (CARA), SERICC Rape and Sexual Abuse Specialist Service, and Southend-on-Sea Rape Crisis (SOS Rape Crisis).

The services provided by Synergy Essex are independent of the police. This ensures individuals can seek help whether they choose to report the incident or not. This could be in relation to something that happened recently or in the past.

Survivors and victims can access support by reaching out on their own or through a referral from someone they trust. This could be a family member, friend, or professional.

At Synergy Essex, people of all ages can benefit from specialised emotional support. This includes counselling and advocacy.

For those pursuing legal action, they offer the help of an Independent Sexual Violence Adviser (ISVA). The advisers can guide and support them through the criminal justice process.

To learn more about the services available, please visit the Synergy Essex website.

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