July 2009

Ex-Premiership finance chief jailed for raping 14-year-old girl in stables

A former finance director of Premier League football club Hull City who raped a schoolgirl in a secluded stable has been jailed for ten years.

Shamed Philip Webster, 58, lured the girl, aged just 14 at the time, into the stables after claiming he wanted to show her an ill pony.

But he raped her at his home in Cherry Burton, East Yorks., and then sexually  assaulted her a few months later.

Webster, who denied the offences, was convicted after a trial. 

He has been branded ‘despicable’ by his young victim.

Jailing Webster, Judge Jennifer Kershaw QC said: ‘You were overbearing towards  her. 

‘She had faced the physical trauma of what happened to her and confusion  what to do about it, only to be abused again. 

‘You have shown not a glimmer of  remorse.’  

Prosecuting at Leeds Crown Court, Mark McKone told the jury the girl had no sexual experience when the attack took place in the summer of 2007.

Giving evidence, the girl said: ‘He stood behind me and put his arm around me. He made me feel really uncomfortable. 

‘When I asked what he was doing and told  him to stop he said it was alright and he continued.

‘I kept asking him to get off me. I was asking him at first but he wouldn’t stop so I started shouting.’

He then carried out a sexual assault on the same terrified girl in October 2007. 

Webster was only arrested when the girl broke down during a conversation about sex with her mum.

He was convicted following a retrial after a previous jury failed to reach a verdict. He will have to register as a sex offender and will pay £3,000 costs. 

During his trial he continued to deny the offences and accused the girl of lying. He had previous convictions for assault and drinking driving but none of a sexual nature.

Outside court the girl, now 16, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, said Webster made her ‘scared’ of him.

She said: ‘I’m relieved it’s over. I never want to see him or have to think  about him again.

‘What he did to me was despicable. He is a nasty man. I have thought about this every day for the past two years. It has stopped me doing things I enjoy and has been frustrating and stressful. It has taken such a long time. It has been horrible.

‘I didn’t consciously decide not to say anything. It was just that I was too scared. I didn’t know what would happen.

‘When I first told the police I was relieved, but I was worried as well. I  didn’t know what to expect.

‘Court was difficult, but I knew I was telling the truth and I knew I had to keep going.

‘Anyone else who has gone through anything like this should come  forward and get the help you need. I hope I can move on. I’m confident I can.’