Stephen Bushell, then aged 59, of School Lane, Lostock Gralam, Cheshire, was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment at Chester Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 1 September 2026, after stalking a 17-year-old girl on the railway network.
The conviction follows an investigation by Cheshire Police into repeated breaches of a court order committed between 20 June 2026 and 3 July 2026.
The court heard that Bushell was subject to a ten-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) imposed in March 2018.
Under the terms of the order, Bushell was prohibited from having children under the age of 16 at his residence and was strictly banned from engaging in conversations with any females not known to him.
Bushell purposefully violated the conditions when he targeted a 17-year-old girl travelling on the rail network in Northwich.
The victim explained that Bushell initially struck up conversations before his actions escalated into stalking behaviour, including purposefully waiting for her at the railway station and subjecting her on one occasion to an unwanted physical hug.
The victim alerted Cheshire Police, reporting that the harassment caused a lasting impact that forced her to alter her daily travel routine.
Officers arrested Bushell, who subsequently entered guilty pleas to:
- Five counts of breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order
- One count of stalking
- One count of sexual assault
Detective Constable Sophie Ward of Northwich CID stated that Bushell was well aware of his order conditions but chose to ignore them, noting that his conviction ensures he is held accountable.
The presiding magistrates handed down a total custodial sentence of 12 months’ imprisonment.
Release Calculation: Under UK sentencing legislation governing sexual offences, Bushell is required to serve two-thirds (eight months) of his 12-month sentence in prison custody before becoming eligible for statutory release on licence. His projected release date falls in May 2027, whereupon he will remain subject to licence conditions and statutory community supervision until the expiration of the full term in September 2027.
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