West Sussex child abuse survivor speaks out.

West Sussex child abuse survivor speaks out to encourage others to come forward.

A man who was sexually abused as a young boy has bravely waived his right to anonymity to “give other people hope".  Steve Lewsey, who is now 51, and lives in Burgess Hill, West Sussex, was 10 years old when the abuse started and has come forward to encourage others to do the same. 

Glenn Langrish, aged 74, was sentenced on 2 February 2024 at Hove Crown Court to 15 years imprisonment for multiple child sex offences against Mr Lewsey which happened in the 1980’s.  Mr Lewsey began working with Langrish at a bicycle repair shop in Crawley, West Sussex when he was just 10 years old.

Mr Lewsey believes there could be more victims of Langrish and said, "Hopefully one of those will have the courage to come forward.” He went on to say “It just demonstrates to people that after all these years, the police will listen to you, the police will take it seriously. It may take some time, but you need to stick with it and you need to see it to the end."

Mr Lewsey reported the abuse to Police in 2011 which sparked an international manhunt which ended with Langrish being extradited to the UK from Poland in 2023.   Prior to this Langrish had Sweden a been living in Sweden and changed his last name to Stephens after being released from prison for unrelated child sex offences in 1994.

Mr Lewsey encouraged others to come forward and said "We need to prove to the people that commit these awful offences that we're stronger than them…Don't be beaten by them, stand up to them."

David Hawkins, who specialises in abuse compensation law with Biscoes Solicitors said “It was very courageous of Mr Lewsey to come forward and tell the Police what happened to him as a child.  The tenacity he and the Police showed in tracing Langrish and bringing him to justice, despite having changed his name and moved countries in the years that followed, shows that the Police take crimes like this very seriously and you will always be listened to.  There may well be other victims of Langrish’s offending out there, and if so, I would encourage you to talk to the Police.”  If you would like to speak to us, David can advise you as to your legal rights in complete confidence and without obligation.