Steven Yates callously targeted the severely disabled woman while her mum was out at the supermarket
Steven Yates callously targeted the severely disabled woman while her mum was out at the supermarket
A sex offender abused a severely disabled woman then “laughed at” her outside Farmfoods. Steven Yates callously targeted his victim while her mum was out at the supermarket.
Despite having issued cruel threats in a bid to keep his crimes under wraps, his wife was ultimately left in tears in court after his despicable behaviour was exposed. However, he continues to maintain his innocence.
Liverpool Crown Court heard on Friday that Yates, of Derby Road in Southport, committed the campaign of sexual abuse against a woman in her 30s, who has suffered from learning difficulties since her birth and is permanently disabled. A user of crutches and a wheelchair, she is unable to leave the house alone and has an estimated mental age of between six and 12.
But Yates repeatedly engaged in sexual activity with her, despite her not having the capacity to consent, while her mother had left the two alone when she went to the shop. This included the 47-year-old rubbing and stroking her arms and legs and kissing her “in a sexual way with tongues or snogging”.
Yates also discussed “dating one another”, although she told him that she “could not, because in the eyes of the law she was only seven years old”. In spite of this, he went on to touch her breasts over her clothing and caused her to “stroke his inner and outer thigh”, at which stage he “talked about being sexually aroused”.
On another occasion, he asked the complainant to “go with him into his bedroom” and “said he wanted to have sex with her”. When she stated that she was going to inform her mum what had been happening, Yates cruelly told her that she “would be put in a home” if she did so.
Keith Sutton, prosecuting, read a statement on behalf of the victim’s mother, who said that, on a later date, Yates had parked beside the family’s car outside a Farmfoods store and “laughed at” her daughter. She added: “I don’t believe Mr Yates cares about the damage he’s done to my family. Mr Yates used us and abused my daughter. I’ll never understand why he did this.”
Yates has one previous conviction for a malicious communications offence in 2020. Anthony Horsfall, defending, told the court: “It is relevant, in this case, that there was a three-year period of delay between the offences being reported until the first appearance. It has to be tempered by the fact that the defendant pursued the matter to trial. Nevertheless, it is very significant period of time and a significant delay.
“The defendant has a number of mental health issues, stemming back to trauma in his childhood. He does have diagnoses of post traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety. Certainly, it is something that has had a long term impact on him.
“The last several decades have been punctuated by self harm and suicide attempts, arising from those mental health difficulties. He is a vulnerable man as far as his mental health is concerned and, secondly, as far as his physical health is concerned. He has numerous health difficulties.
“Your honour will have seen the defendant’s presentation during the course of the trial and, indeed, today. He has a number of physical ailments and is reliant on walking sticks to walk. In my submission, both his mental and physical health issues are factors that would make any time that he would spend in custodial setting even more challenging than it would be for an ordinary inmate.
“He has a vulnerable wife. She is blind. She has a number of mental health issues also. He has been her full time carer actively since they moved in together. I think that was towards the end of 2022.
“She is reliant on him for the completion of her care, her daily needs. As far as shopping and general care is concerned, it is still very much up in the air what her care would look like were the defendant to receive an immediate custodial sentence.”
Yates, who appeared in the dock wearing a black suit over a white shirt and blue tie and sporting a shaved head and goatee beard, was found guilty of nine sexual offences by a jury following a trial. His wife burst into tears in the public gallery and was comforted by another woman by her side as he was jailed for four years and nine months.
Sentencing, Judge Gary Woodhall said: “As a result of her condition, she is somebody who lacks the capacity to consent to sexual activity. She is a vulnerable adult. Despite your assertions to the contrary, the jury were satisfied that you knew or could reasonably have been expected to have known that she lacked the mental capacity to consent to sexual activity.
“You exploited her vulnerability for your own sexual gratification. [Your victim] described how she did not want you to do these things to her. She described the kiss as horrible.
“She said your behaviour made her feel really sad and angry, and you threatened her about what would happen if she would not do these things. All of these things, it was palpable when she gave evidence, caused her consternation and upset.”
Judge Woodhall added of the complainant’s mum’s statement: “She feels that she did not protect her daughter sufficiently. She, of course, had no reason to suspect anything untoward.
“I note that you maintain your innocence and the account which was rejected by the jury. You live with your wife. You are her carer, because she is severely sight impaired and has epilepsy.
“You are unemployed and unfit for work. I have read about traumatic experiences which you experienced as a child. You were placed into care between the ages of 12 and 18. You have a number of health issues. You require carers four times a week. You have attempted to take your life a number of times.
“You have regularly engaged in self harm. There are symptoms suggestive of a personality disorder. Your mental health is currently stable and you are responding well to treatment. It is believed that you will suffer a relapse of your mental health issues in custody.
“There is very substantial personal mitigation. You have no previous convictions. I bear in mind the three-year delay in completing this case, although that was, in part, due to your denials. I bear in mind your own mental health and physical difficulties. I bear in mind the impact that a custodial sentence will have on your wife, who relies on you in relation to her care.”
Yates was also handed an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and a restraining order which will ban him from contacting his victim for 15 years. He will be required to sign the sex offenders’ register for life.
Merseyside Police told the ECHO that it did not hold a custody picture of Yates. Detective Constable Chris Condliff said following the hearing: “This was a shocking case involving the sexual assault of a vulnerable woman, and it’s only right that Yates is now spending time behind bars.
“Yates subjected her to a traumatic ordeal, and we are continuing to support her through this difficult process. I would like to thank her and her family for their patience and strength in assisting our investigations and share our hope that today’s outcome at least provides some form of comfort moving forward.
“I hope this sentencing shows and reassures the public how seriously the courts take these offences and how Merseyside Police is completely committed to protecting anyone from violence and sexual abuse. Anyone who has been a victim of a sexual offence, is concerned for the safety of someone they know or suspects someone to be engaging in this criminal activity should come forward and speak to us.
“Merseyside Police has a team of dedicated staff who will expertly and compassionately deal with your reports, and we will do everything we can to bring offenders to justice. We take all such reports extremely seriously and, in addition, work with partner organisations such as Victim Care support service and RASA, who are there to support victims.”
