Foster carer's seven years for sex abuse
A foster carer who sexually abused two girls in his care has been jailed for seven-and-a-half years.
Clive Stewart, aged 47, of Seaton Drive, Standens Barn, was found guilty last month of five counts of indecency with the girls who were in his and his wife's care between 1991 and 2007, and an indecent assault. His wife was not involved.
Yesterday at Leicester Crown Court, Judge Michael Fowler handed the lorry driver, who still denies the indecency offences, a seven-and-a-half year sentence for the "systematic abuse". Stewart will also be put on the Sex Offenders' Register for life.
He was convicted after the foster children - who are now young women - were able to describe tattoos of a swastika and a spider on his genitals.
Felicity Gerry, prosecuting, said the abuse of one victim, who later revealed the incidents to her adoptive mother, took place after he told other children to play elsewhere so he could be alone with her.
Abuse of another happened after he took her on an overnight trip in his lorry.
In sentencing him for the abuse - as well as production of cannabis and keeping a stun gun - Judge Fowler stressed Stewart's wife had behaved impeccably and was blameless while he still blamed everyone but himself. He said the girls had sought stability but Stewart had brought them only "horror, disruption and fear". Judge Fowler said a major aggravating factor was the gross breach of trust of isolated children. A spokeswoman for Northamptonshire County Council, which placed up to 100 children with the Stewarts. She said: "In common with all foster carers, he was subject to a rigorous vetting and assessment process.
"Initial findings indicated nothing could have predicted his abuse of children."
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