In 2026, the Offender Database recorded that Steven Richardson, then 43, of Paisley, Renfrewshire, was jailed for 28 months for a “sickening” sexual attack on a sleeping teenager. On Tuesday, 10 February 2026, Richardson appeared at Paisley Sheriff Court for sentencing. The court reported that the predator targeted a friend of his daughter during a sleepover following a 40th birthday party for his wife.
The investigation established that on 26 November 2023, Richardson preyed upon the 18-year-old victim at his home in Paisley while his wife was in another room. The woman was both vulnerable and intoxicated after the celebrations. Richardson snuck into her bedroom in the middle of the night under the guise of “checking on” her, before launching the assault. He then returned a second time to assault her again. Police Scotland reported that forensic analysis provided conclusive evidence, with Richardson’s DNA found on the victim’s body.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Richardson had denied the assault throughout the proceedings, but a jury at Paisley Sheriff Court found him guilty unanimously following a trial last month. The victim told the court that she believed she was safe in the home because she knew the family. The judge noted that the defendant’s actions represented a severe breach of trust and had a “catastrophic” impact on the young woman’s mental health, leaving her to piece her life back together after years of trauma.
The judge noted that a custodial sentence was the only appropriate way to address the “beastly” nature of the double assault in Paisley, Renfrewshire. For his actions, Richardson was remanded in custody immediately following the jury’s verdict. The prosecution reported that the survivor expressed relief that the case had concluded, although she noted she wished the 28-month sentence had been longer, given the lasting psychological toll of the ordeal.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For his crimes in Scotland, Steven Richardson was handed:
- Custodial Sentence: 28 months in prison.
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements were activated for ten years.
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Paisley Sheriff Court following a unanimous jury conviction.
- Status: Remanded in custody following the verdict.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Richardson is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by Police Scotland and the prison estate. Due to the nature of the predatory attack on a sleeping teenager in Paisley, Renfrewshire, his management is subject to oversight by the Public Protection Unit.
As a member of the Sex Offenders Register, Richardson must comply with notification requirements regarding any future residence in Paisley for the next ten years. Authorities state that his history of targeting a vulnerable houseguest necessitates strict monitoring upon his eventual release. Any breach of his registration conditions or his licence terms will result in immediate arrest and a return to Paisley Sheriff Court.
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