Brighton binman jailed for sexually assaulting teenage girls

A Brighton binman has been jailed for nine years for sexually abusing teenage girls.

A jury convicted Stephen Marsh, 54, of Firle Road, Brighton, of four counts of indecent assault, having child porn and voyeurism.

They heard from his victims at Lewes Crown Court during a seven-week trial which ended last month.

Marsh worked as a binman for Brighton and Hove City Council and had a second job as a nightclub doorman.

The jury was told that Marsh was a sexual predator who groomed girls as young as 10.

He went on to sexually abuse them as teenagers over a period of 21 years.

Marsh covertly filmed his victims in their homes and used his job as a doorman to befriend girls and gain their trust.

He also befriended his victims’ families as a way to have unsupervised access to their children.

Detective Sergeant Linda Bond, from the Sussex Police Brighton Child Protection Team, said: “For over 20 years Marsh abused an image of trust to commit his abhorrent crimes, luring children into his home through offering to let them see and be photographed with his snakes and tortoises.

“It is thanks to the immeasurable courage of the victims who came forward and bravely spoke about their ordeal that justice has now been done.

“I have no doubt in my mind Marsh would have continued to abuse young girls and it is thanks to them that he will no longer pose a threat to others.

“Sussex Police will always fully support victims of sexual offences and I would encourage anyone in need of our help to come forward.”

At an earlier hearing at Lewes Crown Court, on 22 June, Marsh admitted two counts of having extreme pornography relating to sex acts with animals.

Marsh had previously pleaded not guilty to having extreme pornography and two counts of having ammunition without a firearms licence. He later changed his plea to guilty.

He was arrested in November last year.