Hardy has been sentenced to 26 years (Image: GMP)
A detective who raped and sexually abused a teenage girl has been jailed for 26 years. Detective Constable Stephen Hardy, 46, continues to protest his innocence despite the convictin.
He worked for Greater Manchester Police within the force’s Stockport division and was found guilty of a number of sex crimes.
Hardy manipulated his victim and “gained power and control” over her, Liverpool Crown Court heard.
As he learned his sentence, the disgraced officer displayed no emotion.
Hardy, from Mottram, Tameside, was previously convicted of multiple counts of rape, sexual assault, causing a child to engage in sexual activity and to watch sexual activity as well as assault by penetration.
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Liverpool Crown Court (Image: Google)
The court heard the crimes took place over several years and began when the victim was a child and she feared no one would believe her.
Hardy, during a sentencing hearing on September 13, maintained he was innocent.
Judge Robert Trevor-Jones branded Hardy a “dangerous” offender and handed down an extended sentence.
The Parole Board won’t be able to decide if Hardy is safe to re-enter the outside world until he’s served two-thirds of the 26-year term.
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Following the conviction, Detective Sergeant Abigail Thomas, of GMP’s Major Incident Team, said: “Stephen Hardy has been exposed as a manipulative individual who committed abhorrent offences over a significant period of time. His behaviour and actions go against everything we stand for within policing.
"Tackling violence against women and girls is one of the Force’s top priorities, and anyone found within the organisation to be abusing their position to harm others can expect to face the consequences."
Jo Palmiero, Senior Crown Prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service's North West’s rape and serious sexual abuse unit, said: "Stephen Hardy gained the trust of the child before subjecting them to sickening sexual abuse, with no thought for the lasting damage his abuse would cause.
"Hardy was a police officer, in a position of trust, who manipulated and controlled his victim."
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