STEPHEN FREEDMAN FROM CROSBY SENTENCED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENSES IN MERSEYSIDE

In August 2012, a disturbing case emerged involving Stephen Freedman, a former educator at Merchant Taylors’ School in Crosby, Merseyside, who was sentenced to prison for his involvement in producing and distributing child pornography. Freedman, who dedicated over two decades of his life to teaching at the prestigious institution, was found guilty of possessing and sharing a vast collection of illegal images and videos depicting the abuse of minors, as well as explicit content involving animals.

Freedman, a man with grey hair and formerly sporting a naval-style beard, appeared in court to admit to 18 counts related to the possession, creation, and dissemination of indecent images. His charges included making indecent images of children, distributing such images, and possessing extreme pornography. Some of these offenses dated back to 2004, a period during which he was actively working with children and involved in community activities.

During the proceedings, James Smith, representing Freedman, described the case as a tragic fall from grace for someone who was once highly regarded both professionally and personally within the community. Smith emphasized the profound impact the arrest and subsequent revelations had on Freedman, noting that he had lost contact with many friends and colleagues and suffered significant emotional distress.

The prosecution, led by Zia Chaudhry, revealed that Merseyside Police had been tipped off about a website trading in child pornography. An account under the username 'Horny Alan' was linked to Freedman, leading authorities to conduct a raid on his residence located on Kings Road, Crosby, in May 2010. During the search, police confiscated a computer tower and a laptop from his home.

In a police interview, Freedman confessed to being 'Horny Alan,' stating, “There’s no point trying to deny it.” Investigators discovered a staggering collection of illegal material on his devices, including 6,208 still images of minors being abused, categorized from least to most severe, along with 306 videos. The computer tower contained an additional 1,625 images and seven videos.

Freedman’s criminal activities had severe repercussions on his personal and professional life. He was a member of the Royal Navy Cadet force, a role from which he was immediately removed following his arrest. His career as a teacher, spanning 23 years in a small biology department, was effectively ended, and he was no longer permitted to work as a sailing instructor at Merchant Taylors’.

Furthermore, Freedman’s relationship with his daughter, who is now 16 years old, was irreparably damaged, leading to complete estrangement—a loss he described as catastrophic. In court, Freedman’s remorse was evident through several letters he wrote, expressing deep contrition for his reprehensible conduct.

Judge Graham Morrow QC addressed the court, stating, “It cannot be said that you abused your position of trust at the school, but your former colleagues, pupils, and those you supervised in the Combined Cadet Force must feel terribly let down and justifiably outraged by your behavior during that period. You were leading a private and depraved life while outwardly presenting yourself as a dedicated educator and community member.”

Ultimately, Freedman was sentenced to one year in prison and was disqualified from working with children in the future, marking a stark end to a once-respected career in Crosby, Merseyside.