SAM STEWART FROM CALLINGTON ESCAPES PRISON AFTER DOWNLOADING CHILD INDECENT IMAGES IN MEDITERRANEAN INCIDENT

In a case that has drawn significant attention at Truro Crown Court, 28-year-old Sam Stewart, a former cruise ship croupier from Callington, faced charges related to the possession of indecent images of children. Over an 18-month period, Stewart downloaded more than 2,500 such images, a revelation that has sparked concern among local residents and authorities alike.

The investigation into Stewart's activities was initiated after U.S. customs officials discovered that he had paid to access pornographic websites while he was aboard a cruise ship in the Mediterranean. This discovery prompted further scrutiny of his online activities, leading to the eventual uncovering of his illicit downloads.

The police visited Stewart's home in Florence Road, Kelly Bray, Callington, on November 16, 2007, as part of their investigation. The following day, Stewart was interviewed aboard the vessel, where authorities found indecent images stored on his laptop computer. The images included a total of 2,541 still photographs and 33 video files, most of which were classified at the lowest level of seriousness, indicating they were less severe than more extreme content.

Following the discovery, Stewart was immediately dismissed from his position on the cruise. Upon returning to Callington, he voluntarily presented himself at the local police station and was subsequently arrested. During police interviews, Stewart explained that he had seen preview pictures on a website accompanied by a notice claiming that the images were legal. He stated that he believed they might be legal and found them to be of interest. However, he expressed doubt about the legality of the images upon further reflection.

Throughout the proceedings, Stewart was keen to emphasize that he had no intention or desire to engage in any sexual activity with children, asserting that he would never want to cause harm to a minor. Prosecutor Philip Lee highlighted these points during the case, underscoring Stewart's claims of innocence regarding any intent to offend.

Judge Philip Wassall, presiding over the case, acknowledged that it is rare for individuals caught with such material to avoid immediate imprisonment. Nonetheless, considering the relatively low level of seriousness of the images involved, the judge decided to impose a supervision order for a period of two years. Additionally, Stewart was mandated to participate in 35 sessions of a two-hour Internet Sexual Offender treatment programme. He was also issued an indefinite Sexual Offences Prevention Order and required to register as a sex offender for the next five years.

In addition to these measures, Stewart, who is currently employed as a barman, was ordered to pay £700 in prosecution costs. The court's decision reflects a balance between the severity of the offence and Stewart's circumstances, emphasizing rehabilitation and monitoring over immediate incarceration.