Kent Albert Stephenson: Melbourne tradie charged with more than a dozen sexual offences
After a lengthy criminal investigation, a Melbourne professional has been charged with 13 sex offences.
Kent Albert Stephenson, 51, was charged with 13 sex crimes, including eight counts of rape, two counts of attempted rape and three counts of sexual abuse. The Herald Sun reported.
The offences are believed to have been committed between December 2018 and November 2022 in Melbourne.
The charges were filed in mid-August by the Knox Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Team.
The indictment alleges that Stephenson allegedly struck his victim’s face with his penis, groped her bare breast and raped her multiple times.
At a Melbourne District Court hearing on Friday, the Crown Prosecution Service and Stephenson’s lawyer requested a gag order so that details of the case would not be made public.
After consultation with Stephenson’s alleged victim, this request was withdrawn after she requested that the charges against Stephenson be made public.
Magistrate Vincenzo Caltabiano granted permission for the release of the material.
Kent Albert Stephenson, 51, was charged with 13 sex crimes, including eight counts of rape, two counts of attempted rape and three counts of sexual abuse.
At a Melbourne Magistrates’ Court hearing on Friday, the prosecution and Stephenson’s lawyer requested a gag order, which was withdrawn after the alleged victim requested that the charges against Stephenson be made public.
After the hearing, Stephenson tried to avoid the waiting media outside the courthouse covering the case.
He was supported in court by a friend, whom he dramatically left behind as he exited the courtroom and ran away from the media cameras.
Stephenson is due back in court on November 1.