STEPHEN BLOOMFIELD FROM ACTON SENTENCED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENSES IN IPSWICH

In July 2007, Stephen Bloomfield, a resident of Lambert Drive in Acton, was formally sentenced for possessing a significant collection of indecent images involving children. The case was heard at Ipswich Crown Court, where Bloomfield faced serious charges related to his online activities. Authorities discovered that he had hoarded a total of 1,991 indecent images on his computer equipment stored at his residence.

Judge Neil McKittrick presided over the case and sentenced Bloomfield to a term of 14 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to the offences in 2005. The court was informed that the majority of the images found were of pre-pubescent children, some of whom appeared to be infants. Investigations suggested that many of these images were likely taken in Thailand and/or South America, raising concerns about their origins and the potential for international child exploitation networks.

Bloomfield, a father of four, was described during the proceedings as having an ongoing addiction to such disturbing material, which he claimed was linked to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The court heard that his obsession with these images had persisted for approximately six or seven years. Despite the gravity of his actions, Bloomfield was supported by his family, including his wife and 17-year-old daughter, during the court hearing. The judge took into account character references, notably including a statement from Bloomfield’s local vicar, which portrayed him in a more sympathetic light.

Prosecutor Robert Sadd emphasized the nature of Bloomfield’s collection, stating, “The majority of the images were saved, rather than looked at and discarded. It was his addiction which led him to do this.” This highlighted the compulsive aspect of Bloomfield’s behavior and the extent of his online activity.

In his defense, Harriet Bathurst-Norman, representing Bloomfield, 35 years old at the time, explained that her client was deeply troubled by his actions and was actually relieved upon arrest. She argued that his behavior was driven by OCD rather than a sexual addiction or predatory intent. She further described how Bloomfield’s compulsions extended beyond images, citing his online purchasing habits, such as repeatedly ordering model airplanes he already owned, driven by an obsessive need to keep acquiring items.

Judge McKittrick addressed the court, stating, “You [Bloomfield] play your part at the end of a chain which starts with young children somewhere in our world being abused by adults for the gratification of others. However, I don’t consider you pose a significant risk of serious harm to the public.”

While a report from a medical professional indicated that Bloomfield did not meet all the clinical criteria for OCD, the judge acknowledged that Bloomfield derived relief from anxiety through impulsive addictive behaviors. As part of his sentence, Bloomfield was informed that he would be released on license halfway through his prison term and required to participate in a sexual offenders’ rehabilitation program.

Furthermore, his current registration on the sex offenders’ register was extended to ten years. He was also subject to a sexual offences prevention order, which explicitly prohibited him from taking photographs of anyone under the age of 16, except for his own children. These measures aimed to prevent any further risk to children and to monitor his behavior post-release.