Underage girl felt pressured to continue relationship with woman, court hears

Stephanie Shorney, aged 34, is accused of multiple sexual offences involving an underage girl in Dorset between January 28, 2017 and January 27, 2019.

The girl, who was aged between 14 and 16 years old during this period, cannot be named for legal reasons.

Shorney, of Hill View in Maiden Newton, denies seven counts of sexual offences.

During a trial at Winchester Crown Court, Mr Foster, prosecuting, said that Shorney had previously lived in the same area as the complainant’s family, but later moved to Maiden Newton.

The complainant became aware that Shorney moved and they exchanged messages via Facebook messenger. The pair met multiple times in summer 2017 where the relationship became sexual.

The victim initially spoke to Shorney over Facebook, the court heard

The court witnessed two video interviews where the complainant was asked about her relationship with Shorney.

The complainant told a police officer that they had continued to see each other in secret after Shorney’s husband was made aware of the complainant sleeping over and her parents told her to stop meeting her in September 2017.

She said: “I spent most of my summer holidays there. And then once the summer holidays ended and (I was) back at school, she messaged me saying she couldn’t speak to me anymore as she had feelings for me.

“At the time, I didn’t know my sexuality and I thought I would try out. At first it was a kiss, that’s how it started.

“I then stayed at her house one night and one of her kids came in in the morning and Steph said not to come in and one of them said to her dad about me being in her bed.

“One of them told her dad and he then messaged my mum and dad that something had happened.”

Defendant knew complainant's age during relationship, court hears

Outside Winchester Crown Court

The pair continued to meet each other in private, with meetings in Shorney’s car, her home and the complainant’s home.

When asked if Shorney was aware of her age, the girl said: “She knew how old I was."

The court heard details of their sexual relationship, including how she was hurt during one act and how Shorney allegedly demanded the girl visited her address for ‘birthday sex’.

The complainant told police that the relationship had continued for two years and that she felt uncomfortable going public.

She added she felt pressured to remain in the relationship due to Shorney’s comments that she would end her life and would reveal to everyone their relationship.

“I didn’t want to because I didn’t really want to be in relationship and I was made to feel like I had no choice”, she said.

“Every time I didn’t want it or said it was wrong, she would say, ‘I’m going to kill myself’ or ‘I am going to ruin you’ and I feel like I had to do what I had to and carry on.”

The pair ended their relationship as the girl entered a new relationship.

According to the complainant, the pair continued to exchange messages including Shorney ‘trying to win me back’ and ‘trying to make me feel guilty’ over a four-month period.

The allegations came to light after the girl’s mother was made aware of their relationship and reported Shorney to the police.

The trial continues.