PETER SWAIN FROM STIRCHLEY ESCAPES JAIL AFTER CHILD SEXUAL IMAGE CASE IN TELFORD
| Red Rose Database
Stirchley Child Sexual Abuser
In January 2015, a man from Stirchley, Peter Swain, aged 27, was involved in a serious case concerning the possession and creation of indecent images of children. Swain was found to have accumulated over 100 such images and videos depicting minors as young as three years old. The case unfolded at Shrewsbury Crown Court, where it was revealed that Swain had been living a largely isolated life, which contributed to his troubling behavior.
Swain, who resided at Castlecroft in Stirchley, Telford, admitted to possessing 16 indecent photographs and videos, along with one additional charge related to the creation of such material. The court heard that he had previously downloaded thousands more images and clips onto an old computer, which he had since sold, indicating a significant and ongoing engagement with illegal content.
The police investigation was initiated after West Mercia Police received intelligence from North Wales Police, suggesting that a computer at Swain’s residence was being used to share indecent images. During a raid, authorities discovered 83 indecent photographs and 53 videos on Swain’s laptop. Of these, eight photographs and 34 videos were classified as Category A, the most serious level, with the children depicted believed to be aged between three and thirteen years old.
Swain, who was unemployed at the time, was interviewed by police and admitted to having an addiction to child pornography. He explained that he had been effectively confined to his bedroom for approximately five years at his parents’ home in Telford. During the interview, Swain expressed a disturbing rationale, claiming that his actions were only considered wrong because society deemed them so, and that he felt he should have been born in a different era where such behavior might have been accepted.
Prosecutor Mr. Robert Edwards detailed that Swain had told officers he was unable to stop his behavior, describing it as an addiction. He also noted that Swain did not have any income and was not claiming benefits, as he preferred to avoid social interactions. As a result, the court decided not to impose a custodial sentence. Instead, Judge Peter Barrie sentenced Swain to a three-year community order, which includes supervision by the probation service and participation in an intensive internet sex offender treatment program.
Furthermore, Swain was ordered to pay only half of the court costs, amounting to £150, due to his lack of income. His legal representative, Mr. Steven Scully, explained that Swain’s social withdrawal stemmed from past experiences of bullying, which led to depression and self-isolation. Scully added that Swain’s curiosity initially drew him to adult pornography, but this eventually escalated to viewing images of children, which he admitted to doing for about five years.
Judge Barrie emphasized that the primary goal was to prevent further offending, stating, “The public interest is far better served by trying everything possible to ensure this behaviour stops, rather than by sending you to prison.” The case highlights the ongoing challenges faced by authorities in addressing online child exploitation and the importance of rehabilitation over incarceration in certain circumstances.
Swain, who resided at Castlecroft in Stirchley, Telford, admitted to possessing 16 indecent photographs and videos, along with one additional charge related to the creation of such material. The court heard that he had previously downloaded thousands more images and clips onto an old computer, which he had since sold, indicating a significant and ongoing engagement with illegal content.
The police investigation was initiated after West Mercia Police received intelligence from North Wales Police, suggesting that a computer at Swain’s residence was being used to share indecent images. During a raid, authorities discovered 83 indecent photographs and 53 videos on Swain’s laptop. Of these, eight photographs and 34 videos were classified as Category A, the most serious level, with the children depicted believed to be aged between three and thirteen years old.
Swain, who was unemployed at the time, was interviewed by police and admitted to having an addiction to child pornography. He explained that he had been effectively confined to his bedroom for approximately five years at his parents’ home in Telford. During the interview, Swain expressed a disturbing rationale, claiming that his actions were only considered wrong because society deemed them so, and that he felt he should have been born in a different era where such behavior might have been accepted.
Prosecutor Mr. Robert Edwards detailed that Swain had told officers he was unable to stop his behavior, describing it as an addiction. He also noted that Swain did not have any income and was not claiming benefits, as he preferred to avoid social interactions. As a result, the court decided not to impose a custodial sentence. Instead, Judge Peter Barrie sentenced Swain to a three-year community order, which includes supervision by the probation service and participation in an intensive internet sex offender treatment program.
Furthermore, Swain was ordered to pay only half of the court costs, amounting to £150, due to his lack of income. His legal representative, Mr. Steven Scully, explained that Swain’s social withdrawal stemmed from past experiences of bullying, which led to depression and self-isolation. Scully added that Swain’s curiosity initially drew him to adult pornography, but this eventually escalated to viewing images of children, which he admitted to doing for about five years.
Judge Barrie emphasized that the primary goal was to prevent further offending, stating, “The public interest is far better served by trying everything possible to ensure this behaviour stops, rather than by sending you to prison.” The case highlights the ongoing challenges faced by authorities in addressing online child exploitation and the importance of rehabilitation over incarceration in certain circumstances.