CATCHING CARL STEPHENSON IN RADCLIFFE: HORRIFIC CHILD PORN DISCOVERY LEADS TO COMMUNITY ORDER

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Radcliffe, a young man named Carl Stephenson was caught in possession of a vast collection of indecent images of children. The incident came to light when his personal laptop, a Dell device gifted by his father during Christmas, was sent for repair under warranty.

During the repair process, a technician at MCS Technology in Hampshire was investigating a fault with the laptop. While examining the device, the technician accessed video footage stored on the machine and was appalled to find sexually explicit images involving young children. Recognizing the severity of the content, the technician promptly informed his supervisor, who then contacted the police.

Authorities traced the purchase of the laptop back to Carl Stephenson, who was then residing in Radcliffe on Morley Road. On June 11, police officers visited his home and took him into custody. During questioning, Stephenson, a former student of Bolton College, admitted to possessing child pornography. He handed over a Samsung tablet, a mobile phone, a memory card, and a memory stick for forensic analysis.

An investigation revealed that Stephenson had amassed a total of 19,420 indecent photographs and videos of children. Among these were 212 videos and 506 photographs classified as the most serious category, known as Category A. Some of the children depicted were as young as six to ten years old.

In police interviews, Stephenson disclosed that he had been accessing pornography on the internet since he was 14 years old. He explained that his initial interest was in adult content, but he later discovered images involving children. He also admitted to developing an addiction to pornography, which he expressed remorse for.

The 19-year-old, now residing at Barlow Fold Close, Bury, pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children and one count of possessing such images. Despite the gravity of his actions, Stephenson was described by the court as coming from a good family with no prior criminal record.

Defense lawyer Nicholas Ross highlighted that much of Stephenson’s offending occurred during his youth and emphasized his remorse and honesty. He stated, “Much of what he did was committed when he was a youth. This defendant, his family, and his parents are devastated. He was brutally honest with the police, which is encouraging in terms of his rehabilitation.”

Judge Graeme Smith addressed Stephenson directly, acknowledging that his crimes warranted a prison sentence. However, the judge also noted that incarceration would not provide the necessary support for rehabilitation nor protect the public effectively. Instead, Stephenson was sentenced to a three-year community order, which includes participation in a sex offenders’ treatment program and 20 days of rehabilitation activities.

The judge warned Stephenson that this was not an easy option and emphasized the importance of his compliance. Additionally, Stephenson was placed on the sex offenders’ register and subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, which will remain in effect for ten years. The order also restricts his use of computers and online devices, aiming to prevent further offenses.