STEPHEN HOOPER'S BRISLINGTON AND KNOWLE CRIMES: SERIAL PAEDOPHILE'S SHOCKING OFFENSES IN BRISTOL

In July 2017, a disturbing incident unfolded in Bristol involving Stephen Hooper, a 67-year-old man from King Road in Knowle. Hooper was caught engaging in highly inappropriate behavior when he tied a weight to his penis before exposing himself to a young girl in the area. The young girl, only ten years old, confided in her mother about the incident, prompting immediate police action. When authorities arrived, they discovered that Hooper had been recording himself performing sexual acts while a child was nearby, raising serious concerns about his ongoing predatory behavior.

Hooper's criminal history is extensive, with convictions spanning over 16 years. His previous offenses include a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence for indecent assault against two young girls, as well as making and possessing indecent images of children. His latest offenses led to his being jailed for two years after he pleaded guilty to engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child on at least two separate occasions. Additionally, he admitted to exposure and breaching a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO).

Judge Julian Lambert, presiding over the case, sentenced Hooper to two years in prison and ordered him to register as a sex offender indefinitely. The judge remarked on Hooper's age and his long-standing sexual interests, stating, “You are an old man. You have a long-standing sexual interest in the young.”

Prosecutor Kenneth Bell provided further context, explaining that Hooper had been subject to a SOPO since 2013, following a conviction for making indecent images of children. The order prohibited him from contacting anyone under 16 and restricted his internet use without supervision. However, in May of that year, a young girl saw Hooper pull down his shorts and expose himself. She reported the incident to her mother, who then saw Hooper hiding behind a hedge. Police were called immediately.

During his arrest, Hooper was still wearing the shorts he was seen in during the incident. A subsequent search of his home uncovered a computer that he had not declared to his supervising officer, breaching the terms of his SOPO. Hooper claimed he was building the computer for his son, but further investigation revealed that he had filmed himself engaging in sexual acts with a child in the background. The child had described how Hooper would clap his hands to attract her attention, and at times, his shorts would be off, with a weight attached to his penis, indicating a disturbing pattern of behavior.

In a related case from February 2013, Hooper, a self-confessed paedophile, was found to have sent a lewd picture of himself to an elderly woman. Police later discovered that he possessed 179 indecent images of children, including 50 pictures depicting girls being sexually abused by adults. These images ranged in age from eight to 14 years old and were accessed through searches using terms like “teen,” “young,” “girl,” “school,” and “incest.”

Hooper's criminal record also includes a previous conviction for indecent assault against two girls, which resulted in a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence. His latest court appearance saw him plead guilty to 16 counts of making indecent images of children and four counts of possessing prohibited images. His defense argued that Hooper was aware of his long-standing interest in children and needed professional help to address his deviant tendencies.

Judge Geoffrey Mercer QC considered sentencing Hooper to immediate imprisonment but opted for a community order with three years of supervision and mandatory attendance at a sex offender treatment program. The court also imposed a Sexual Offences Prevention Order, restricting his contact with under-16s and limiting his internet access. Hooper was ordered to register as a sex offender for life. The judge emphasized the importance of addressing Hooper’s issues, stating, “It is in the greater public interest to make sure you address your problem and such risk you pose is reduced as far as it can be.”

Throughout these proceedings, Hooper’s actions have cast a long shadow over the Bristol community, highlighting the ongoing threat posed by individuals with a history of sexual offenses against children. Authorities remain vigilant, and the legal system continues to impose strict measures to protect vulnerable members of society from such predatory behavior.