JOHN STACEY FROM CODNOR AND RIPLEY CAUGHT WITH THOUSANDS OF INDECENT CHILD IMAGES

In October 2010, a disturbing case emerged involving John Stacey, a man residing in the villages of Codnor and Ripley. Stacey, aged 40, was found to possess an alarming collection of indecent images of young girls on his personal computers at his home. The police investigation was initiated after authorities discovered that Stacey had uploaded these illicit images to a website they were scrutinizing.

According to court records from Derby Crown Court, the police executed a search warrant at Stacey’s residence on Goose Lane, Codnor, on February 25 of the previous year. During the search, they uncovered a staggering total of 8,636 images depicting girls aged between 11 and 17 in various states of undress. These images were classified into different categories based on their explicitness, with the majority—7,837 images—falling into the most severe category, known as category one. An additional 407 images were classified as category two, and 12 as category three. However, Judge Michael Fowler, who reviewed a sample of the images prior to sentencing, expressed concern that some of the photographs might even qualify as category four, which is considered highly indecent.

Further investigation revealed that Stacey, who was employed as a network administrator at Loughborough College, had admitted to police that he was sexually interested in images of girls aged 14 to 17. The court was informed that the images included not only photographs but also indecent movies of children. The police found that a laptop and a computer tower, both containing the illicit images, belonged to Loughborough College. Stacey was interviewed by authorities and confessed to downloading the images, which raised serious concerns about his conduct.

Although Stacey was dismissed from his position at Loughborough College following the investigation, there was no evidence suggesting he had been involved in any direct abuse of children through his role. Nonetheless, he faced multiple charges, including five counts of distributing indecent photographs of children, nine counts of making such images, and two counts of possession.

During the court proceedings, the prosecution, led by Richard Kenward, detailed the extent of Stacey’s illegal activities. The court heard that Stacey’s actions involved not only possession but also the distribution of these images, which is a grave offense. In mitigation, Stacey’s legal representative, Keith Raynor, argued that Stacey had come to understand the coercive and manipulative nature of child exploitation, emphasizing that children at such a tender age are often coerced or persuaded into participating in the creation of such material.

Judge Michael Fowler sentenced Stacey to a three-year community order. As part of his sentence, Stacey is required to attend the NSPCC Dove Project, an organization that works with individuals involved in child sex offenses, and will be under supervision by the probation service. He is also subject to a sexual offenders’ prevention order, which prohibits him from having unsupervised contact with children. Additionally, Stacey must register as a sex offender for five years and is explicitly banned from working with children in any capacity. The court’s decision underscores the seriousness of his offenses and the ongoing risk posed by such behavior.