On Friday, 9 January 2026, the Offender Database reported that Stephen Yates, 47, of Derby Road, Southport, was sentenced to four years and nine months in prison at Liverpool Crown Court. Yates was convicted of a series of “shocking” sexual offences against a vulnerable woman, exploiting her mental health condition for his own gratification.
The court heard that the offences occurred in 2020. Following a complex and lengthy investigation by Merseyside Police, Yates was charged in October 2024. He was found guilty of nine counts of sexual activity with a person with a mental disorder under the Sexual Offences Act 2003. Detective Constable Chris Condliff praised the survivor and her family for their immense patience and strength, noting that Yates had subjected her to multiple traumatic ordeals.
Stephen Yates was sentenced to four years and nine months in prison. In addition to his custodial term, the judge imposed a restraining order and a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) to ensure the victim is permanently protected from further harm or contact.
As a result of his convictions for serious sexual assault, Yates has been placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life. He is managed under the highest level of Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) in the Sefton and Merseyside areas. This framework ensures that upon his release, Merseyside Police and the National Probation Service will maintain permanent, intensive monitoring of his residency and movements to prevent him from targeting other vulnerable individuals.
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