STEPHEN CHRYSTAL – MATLOCK, DERBYSHIRE

❌STEPHEN CHRYSTAL – MATLOCK, DERBYSHIRE❌

June 2026 – A Derbyshire man has been sentenced to prison after being found guilty of multiple historic offences involving children dating back several decades.

Stephen Chrystal, 53, of Grove Lane, Hackney, Matlock, was sentenced at Durham Crown Court following a trial in which he was convicted on 20 of 21 charges. He received a 12-month prison sentence and was placed on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.

The court heard the offences occurred between 1987 and 1994 in County Durham, when Chrystal was a teenager. Evidence presented during the trial included testimony from victims and family members, detailing abuse that left lasting emotional trauma.

Jurors were told that the offences involved inappropriate sexual conduct towards younger children, coercive behaviour, threats and physical intimidation. Victims described living with the impact of the abuse for many years, with one stating they dreaded seeing the offender, while another said hearing his name caused them to “freeze”.

The allegations were first reported to police in 2021 when one victim came forward. Following an investigation, Chrystal was arrested in June 2022 and later charged with multiple offences.

After a two-week trial, the jury returned guilty verdicts on 20 counts. The court heard that the abuse had a profound and lifelong impact on those affected.

Chrystal, a father of two and former business owner, is now serving his sentence and remains subject to sex offender registration requirements.