A former police officer and children's football coach has been sentenced to 29 years in prison for a series of child sexual abuse offences committed over more than four decades. Stephen Henry Walker, 68, was convicted of 40 charges relating to 15 victims, both boys and girls, following two trials at Croydon Crown Court.
Walker, who worked as a salesman and served as a Metropolitan Police officer for about a year, coached several children's football teams where he met some of his victims. Others were children he knew through family friends. The offences, which included sexual assault, gross indecency, and buggery, took place between 1966 and 2007, primarily in Surrey but also in France, Malta, and other locations.
The investigation began when a victim came forward in March 2018. As enquiries progressed, Walker fled to Malta, where he lived under an alias. He returned to the UK in October 2019, was arrested, and subsequently charged. Further victims were identified while he was on remand.
Many victims attended the sentencing hearing, reading impact statements detailing emotional problems such as addiction, psychiatric issues, and difficulty forming relationships. One woman, abused at age 11, said: 'The pain has never gone away. I suffered enormous guilt that I allowed it to happen.' Another victim described how Walker 'gets inside your psyche'.
Judge Elizabeth Smaller described Walker as a serial child sexual abuser who targeted vulnerable children. She imposed a 28-year sentence with an extended one-year licence, meaning he must serve at least 14 years before being eligible for parole. Walker refused to enter the courtroom to hear the statements or his sentence.
