Predator Stephen Chant Guilty of Attempted Rapes and Assaults on Teen Girls
Stephen Sydney Chant, from Seymour Road, faced Swindon Crown Court on July 17 after admitting to multiple horrific offences. He pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted stranger rape on teenage girls, a Section 18 GBH, and a sexual assault.
Attack on Teen Girl Caught on Path Between Railway and Langford Road
Chant lurked in bushes before pouncing on a teenage girl at around 6.30pm on 25 July 2022. He ran at her, struck her over the head, and tried to rape her. The brave victim fought back. A passer-by jumped in, allowing her to escape the nightmare.
Additional Charges Reveal Disturbing Pattern
- Attempted rape of a second teenage girl in April 2022
- Sexual assault on a young woman in August 2021
Police Praise Victims and Officers for Courage and Diligence
Detective Inspector Tom Straker said: “Chant is clearly a very dangerous man who preyed on young women in TROWBRIDGE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Trowbridge. His victims have been incredibly brave and I cannot praise them enough for how they have worked with my team to help us get him convicted and imprisoned.”
He added: “I am proud of our Community Policing Team and Central CID detectives who tracked down this sexual predator. Their thorough investigation left Chant no choice but to plead guilty, sparing his victims from reliving their trauma in court. A serious threat has now been removed, making our communities safer.”
