SIMON STANNEY FROM COPMANTHORPE CAUGHT WITH CHILD SEX IMAGES IN HORRIFIC CASE

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Copmanthorpe, Simon Stanney, a 27-year-old man with aspirations of becoming a teacher, has been found guilty of possessing a large collection of child sexual images. The investigation, which uncovered the extent of his disturbing collection, revealed that Stanney had stored a total of 257 explicit images depicting children in various states of abuse and distress.

Prosecutor Jessica Lister presented the details to York Crown Court, emphasizing the severity of the material found on Stanney’s mobile device. Among these images were photographs of very young children, with the youngest being only three months old. The images included scenes of children under the age of eight engaged in sexual acts with adults, some of which depicted clear signs of pain and suffering. The images spanned from October 2015 to August 2016, illustrating a disturbing period during which Stanney collected and stored these illicit materials.

During the court proceedings, Judge Simon Hickey addressed Stanney directly, highlighting the gravity of his actions and the implications of his previous ambitions. The judge pointed out that Stanney had been training to become a teacher, a profession that involves caring for and educating children. However, given the nature of his offenses, the court made it clear that he would almost certainly never be permitted to work with children again, a decision that was met with a sense of justified concern.

Stanney, who resides at Vavasour Court in Copmanthorpe, pleaded guilty to eight charges related to the possession of indecent images of children. In response, the court sentenced him to ten months in prison, though this sentence was suspended for two years. As part of his rehabilitation, Stanney was ordered to complete a 34-session sex offender treatment program and participate in five days of rehabilitative activities. Additionally, he was placed on the sex offenders’ register and subjected to a sexual harm prevention order, which includes police monitoring of his internet usage. Both of these orders are set to remain in effect for ten years.

Furthermore, Stanney was added to a list of individuals barred from working with children, reinforcing the community’s efforts to prevent any future harm. The police executed a warrant at his home following a tip-off from the national Child Exploitation and Online Protection squad. During the search, authorities discovered 107 images classified as the most serious category of child sexual abuse material. The victims ranged in age from just three months old to 14 years old, with some images showing children in obvious pain and distress.

In a statement, Miss Lister noted that Stanney had previously been a trainee teacher and had even considered returning to the profession. However, his arrest and the subsequent findings led to his dismissal from his latest employment at a restaurant, where he had been working at the time of his arrest. The case has raised serious concerns about the safety of children and the importance of vigilant law enforcement in tackling online exploitation and abuse.