Stephen Plant review: Pervert, SEX OFFENER

STEPHEN PLANT Paedophile ...DIRTY SEX OFFENDER, Windsor Road, Carlton-in-Lindrick nr WORKSOP Nottinghamshire.

A dance teacher in Leicester who told a 13 year old girl to keep their relationship a secret has been handed a 3 year community order…

A ‘manipulative and controlling dance teacher who preyed on a 13-year-old girl has been given a three year community order after engaging in sexual activity with his victim.

Stephen Plant, 22, who ran theatre and dance schools in the Worksop area, was sentenced at Leicester Crown Court today (Tuesday 22 November).

Plant met the girl in August 2009 and began showering her with gifts and sending her messages via email, texts, MSN and Facebook.

They started to meet in secret and Plant repeatedly told the girl he loved her and that she should not tell anyone about their relationship.

Plant, of Windsor Road, Carlton-in-Lindrick, ran his own theatre and dance company called Star X Dance and Drama, holding sessions at local schools. He also ran a local theatre school called SCN.

After feeling as though their relationship was becoming increasingly inappropriate, the girl bravely opened up to her parents and told them about Plant’s behaviour.

DC David Oldale, who led the police investigation, said: “She knew it was wrong and this feeling grew stronger as Plant became more intense.

“It was not easy for her to tell her parents, but she knew she had to put a stop to what was going on.

“All the while, Plant was telling her to keep everything a secret and warned her that his life would be ruined if anyone found out.

“As the adult in the relationship, he put an incredible amount of pressure on her to keep quiet about what he was doing.”

Plant was arrested at his home on 28 January. Police searched his house and took his computer away for forensic examination.

Officers from the force’s E Crime Unit searched the system’s hard drive and discovered a number of indecent images of children.

He was subsequently charged with 15 counts of making and possessing indecent images, as well as sexual activity with a girl between 13 and 15.

Plant pleaded guilty to all charges at Nottingham Crown Court on 10 October and will remain on the Sex Offenders’ Register indefinitely.

DC Oldale added: “As a 21-year-old man at the time, Plant was the adult in the relationship and knew that what he was doing was wrong.

“The fact that we also found indecent images on his computer confirms the sort of man he is. Luckily, the girl spoke out when she did and hopefully she can draw some closure from the fact that Plant has been held to account.”

In a statement released by the girl’s parents, they said their daughter had been in an ‘emotional turmoil’ when she finally opened up to them about what had been happening.

They said: “The months of manipulation and emotional control over our daughter, at 13 years old, has taken a part of her childhood that can never be replaced. His actions have continued to have enormous repercussions for many people.

“Stephen Plant could have admitted his crime against our daughter months ago but instead the case has been prolonged. We hope the bravery of our child in coming forward, and the outcome of sentencing, will prevent him from doing this to another child.

“We also hope he receives the help and support he needs to understand that the way he feels towards young children is fundamentally wrong.”

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