A PAEDOPHILE who abused a serving police officer while he was a young teenager has been sentenced.

Stephen Wright, 68, from Sale, was sentenced to a total of 18 months for three counts of indecent assault. This will be added to a 22-year prison sentence he is already serving at HMP Forest Bank for sexual abuse of boys.

The charges relate to a period between 1978 and 1981 when victim Darren Kenny, now 50, was aged between 12 and 15.

The court heard how Wright began working behind the bar at a pub in Rochdale owned by Darren’s dad and would stay in Darren’s bedroom after he finished work and force him to perform sex acts on him.

Darren also spoke of how Wright would swear him to secrecy and buy him sweets and gifts but he was too scared to tell his parents about the abuse, which continued until he moved out of the pub.

After the death of his dad in 1995 and his mum in 2002, Darren attended counselling and spoke of how he missed out on bringing his children up because of the painful memories.

Darren, who works on GMP’s Tameside borough, believed that Wright had died until he Googled his name in 2014 and found that he was serving time for other sexual abuse offences.

The court heard how this made Darren feel physically sick and he immediately contacted the police. Wright was subsequently arrested and charged in 2015.

Detective Sergeant Julianna Barker, of GMP’s Rochdale Borough, said: “Wright abused a position of trust in order to systematically abuse a vulnerable young boy.

“I would like to pay tribute to Darren for his bravery in coming forward and his strength of character in sitting through this trial.

“Even though this sentence can never repair the damage that has been done by Wright’s actions, I hope that it can at least bring some closure to Darren.

“I also hope that this shows how seriously we take any form of abuse and that no matter how long ago the offences took place we will always look to bring offenders to justice.”

A spokesperson for the children’s charity NSPCC said: “Harding probably thought he’d got away with his sickening crimes but his victims’ bravery in coming forward has helped ensure that he is now behind bars.

“As this trial heard, sexual abuse can ruin childhoods and the devastating effects can last long into adulthood.

“That’s why it’s absolutely vital that victims get the support they need as soon as possible and always feel confident to speak out and achieve justice, no matter how much time has passed.”

Adults with concerns about a child can contact the NSPCC helpline in confidence, 24 hours a day seven days a week, on 0800 808 5000 or via help@nspcc.org.uk.

For help and support children can contact ChildLine 24 hours a day, 365 days a year on 0800 1111 or by visiting childline.org.uk.