Charity helper’s sex-attack shame

JAILED: Rogerson

A 20-YEAR-OLD man who devoted his spare time to charity fund-raising has been jailed for sexually assaulting a woman while she slept.

Stephen Rogerson, of Wellbank Close, Hathershaw, worked as a volunteer for good causes including Dr Kershaw’s Hospice and the British Heart Foundation.

But a judge at Manchester Crown Court told him: “This was a most serious breach of trust.”

The court heard Rogerson was an “isolated and awkward” man who had difficulty in forming relationships.

In June last year he had been invited to stay overnight at the victim’s address.

Lisa Boocock, prosecuting, said towards the end of the night Rogerson had tried to kiss the victim, who had pushed him away and made it clear she wasn’t interested.

The woman, in her late teens, went to bed but felt “weird” when she woke up next morning. She was alarmed to find her underwear had been removed and realised something had occurred while she slept. She angrily challenged him, who denied touching her. She hit him and called the police.

The woman later went to St Mary’s Hospital where traces of Rogerson’s semen were found.

Simon Nicol, defending, said his client admitted removing the girl’s underclothing and sexually assaulting her.

He said Rogerson suffered from a problem which made it difficult for him to articulate words properly.

Sentencing him, Judge Peter Lakin told him: “When she was asleep you sexually assaulted her, which was a most serious breach of trust.”

Rogerson was sentenced to 20 months in a young offenders’ institution. He will serve up to half the term inside and be subject to Sexual Offence Act stipulations for the next 10 years.



OUR website carries heavily edited versions of stories only available in full in our print and eChron editions



Follow us on Twitter: @OldhamChronicle