ARCHIE STULPA FROM GREAT BENTLEY SENTENCED FOR SEX OFFENCES AGAINST CHILDREN IN IPSWICH

In December 2018, a disturbing case involving a young man from Great Bentley, named Archie Stulpa, came to light as he was convicted of multiple serious sexual offences against minors. The case was heard at Ipswich Crown Court, where the details of his crimes revealed a pattern of grooming, sexual assault, and possession of indecent images of children.

Stulpa, aged 20 at the time of sentencing, had previously admitted to a series of heinous acts. He confessed to sexually assaulting a girl under the age of 13 on August 5, 2015, when he was just 17 years old. Additionally, he pleaded guilty to inciting a girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity without penetration, as well as attempting to meet girls under 16 after grooming them. These offences spanned from late May to early June 2017, when he was over 18 and legally an adult.

The court also found that Stulpa had made indecent photographs of children, with evidence of one Category B image and two Category C images stored on his laptop. The offences are believed to involve four different victims, highlighting a disturbing pattern of predatory behavior.

Prosecutor David Wilson outlined that Stulpa had used a dating app called Yellow to initiate contact with his victims, who ranged in age from 12 to 16. On the app, he falsely listed his age as 16 or 17, which allowed him to communicate with girls under 18. At the time, he was actually 18. Wilson explained that Stulpa told one of his victims there was “something attractive” about taking risks with their age, and their conversations quickly escalated from the dating app to Snapchat, where nude photos were exchanged.

Further details revealed that the sexual assault occurred when Stulpa was 17, adding to the gravity of his actions. The investigation was conducted by Suffolk Police’s Cybercrime Team, which uncovered the extent of his online activities and possession of indecent images.

During the hearing, Stulpa-McCullum’s defense, represented by Michael Levy, highlighted his ongoing health issues, including a diagnosis of kidney cancer at age three and subsequent health complications. Levy described how Stulpa had been on a transplant list for a heart and lung transplant but was deemed unable to handle such procedures. Recent medical findings indicated spots on his liver, adding to his health concerns. The judge acknowledged these health issues but emphasized that they did not excuse his criminal conduct.

Judge Rupert Overbury remarked that while Stulpa’s health conditions provided some context, they did not diminish the seriousness of his crimes. He noted that Stulpa appeared troubled by his own mortality and struggled to integrate into society. The judge expressed relief that Stulpa’s face-to-face contact was limited to just one victim, but warned that his online grooming and exploitation were deeply troubling.

Stulpa was sentenced to 21 months in a youth detention center, suspended for two years. He was also ordered to complete 60 days of rehabilitation, participate in 29 sessions of a sexual offending program, and be subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for ten years. Furthermore, he will be required to sign the sex offenders register, ensuring ongoing monitoring of his activities.

In a prior hearing in October 2018, Stulpa had admitted to a string of sex offences against children, including the sexual assault of a girl under 13 and inciting another girl under 13 to engage in sexual activity. He also admitted to attempting to meet girls under 16 following grooming and to making indecent images of children. These offences involved multiple victims and were committed over a period from May to June 2017. Despite admitting to some charges, he denied others related to causing sexual activity and possessing additional indecent images, which the prosecution decided not to pursue further. The court ordered that these charges be left on file.

Judge Martyn Levett warned Stulpa that sentencing would be adjourned until December 10, and that failure to appear could result in a warrant for his arrest. Conditions of bail included restrictions on contacting certain girls, with penalties for breach. The court emphasized the importance of monitoring his compliance with these conditions, given the severity of his offences and the ongoing risk he posed to the community.