A RAPIST who took a teenage girl abroad for an abortion because he feared the baby she was carrying was his has been jailed for 18 years.

Stephen Bailey, 42, of Boundary Lane, WGC was found guilty of rape, sexual activity with a child and ABH after a trial at St Albans Crown Court.

At the same court yesterday (Wednesday) Judge Michael Baker imposed an 18-year sentence for public protection, which means Bailey will be supervised by probation for a longer period after release.

Market trader and property developer Bailey still protested his innocence as he was led to the cells to begin his sentence.

Bailey said: “There was no proof. It was all hearsay.

“The police bullied her [the victim] for 40 minutes to make her come to court.

“There is no proof at all.”

During the trial the jury heard the victim, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, had become pregnant while Bailey was abusing her.

Bailey found out and fearing the child was his persuaded the teenage girl to go abroad as she had passed the legal period when a termination can take place in this country.

However, the pair returned without the abortion being carried out.

Bailey claimed the girl had made everything up and evidence was produced that she was a disruptive pupil at school.

The judge conceded she may have “exaggerated” some evidence, but that the “core allegations were true.”

Judge Michael Baker said Bailey, who has a number of previous convictions but none of a sexual nature, was a risk to any woman he may meet in the future.

Judge Baker said: “You tried to get her to have an abortion, taking her abroad when you realised it was unlawful to have a termination here.

“I have concluded that you pose a significant risk of causing serious risk to any girl or woman you may form some kind of attraction to.

“I recognised the manipulative and aggressive conduct towards [the victim] and irrational behaviour, during the trial and the report from probation comes to the same conclusion.

“You have no sexual offences on your criminal record, but have an aggressive streak and are prepared to use violence when crossed.”

Time spent on remand in custody of 506 days were ordered to count towards sentence.

Bailey will sign the sex offenders register for life after release.

A sexual offences prevention order was made prohibiting contact with the victim.

He was banned from working with children.

The judge also ordered an investigation into Bailey’s finances to retrieve the court’s costs for the contested trial.