Callous paedophile described by police as a ‘child predator’ jailed for 23 years for rape and abuse of young boys

A west Belfast sex offender jailed for the rape and abuse of young boys was a “child predator who brutally sexually exploited his victims” police have said.

Stephen McIlvenny (21) was jailed for 23 years after he admitted 77 charges, including the repeated rape and blackmail of three teenage boys.

With an address given as Hydebank Young Offenders Centre but previously at Glasvey Close in Twinbrook, he was aged 16 when some of his crimes were committed.

McIlvenny, described in court as “a callous paedophile” befriended each of his victims who were several years younger by identifying common interests.

He offended between the ages of 16 and 19, abusing three young boys aged 14-15.

Through an elaborate ruse that he himself was being sexually abused and was being forced to engage in intimate acts and film them, he blackmailed and coerced his victims until he had absolute control through fear over them.

When they did not comply with his wishes he used the threat of releasing images of them on social media, through these and other methods he maintained their complete compliance.

When his victims started to try to distance themselves from his control he assaulted one of them on the street causing significant injuries.

Detective Inspector Nikki Deehan from the PSNI Public Protection Branch welcomed the sentencing.

“McIlvenny is a child predator who brutally sexually exploited his young victims and inflicted long lasting trauma,” she said.

“People have an image of a paedophile in their minds but the digital world has warped this and parents need to be aware that perpetrators are getting younger, more tech savvy and extremely manipulative.

A mother of one of the victims released an anonymous statement.

“The impact these sick crimes have had on my young son has been profound, affecting all aspects of his life,” she said.

“The trauma he has experienced has resulted in difficulty not just forming new relationships but has also impacted current relationships. He understandably finds it hard to trust people now.

“Not only was the abuse my son suffered of a sexual nature, he was also beaten, leaving him with a bleed on the brain. This was all to keep him quiet about the sexual abuse, terrify him into silence.

“This is the third year of going through the judicial system to get to sentencing and this has taken its toll on our family. It has consumed us. We hope we can begin to move on now, the sentencing has given us some form of closure.”

Head of the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) Serious Crime Unit Catherine Kierans, prosecuted the case.

“McIlvenny is a callous paedophile who manipulated boys several years younger than him to inflict horrific sexual abuse on them,” she said.

“I want to commend the three victims in this case for their immense courage in speaking out about the cruel and depraved abuse they suffered, and going through the criminal justice process.

“Their actions have led to this defendant being held accountable for his crimes, which have caused such distress and trauma to his brave victims.”

She added that McIlvenny was a young man who “may not fit the general perception of what a paedophile is”.

“But there is no typical abuser, and anyone of any gender can be a victim or perpetrator of sexual abuse. Boys and men can be victims too,” she said.

“I want to assure all victims that the team in the PPS Serious Crime Unit take these cases extremely seriously and handle them with sensitivity and care.

“To any young person who thinks they may be suffering abuse, it is never your fault. The shame belongs to the abuser and never the victim. There are people who can help. Please speak to a trusted adult.”