RIPLEY MAN STEPHEN KIRKMAN FACES LOSING JOB AFTER BEING CAUGHT WITH INDECENT IMAGES

In January 2017, a disturbing case emerged involving Stephen Kirkman, a resident of Ripley, who was found to have downloaded and possessed indecent images of minors. The case drew significant attention due to the serious nature of the offences and the personal consequences faced by Kirkman.

Police authorities, acting on intelligence received, conducted a raid on Kirkman’s residence located on Crossley Street in Ripley early in the morning on June 2 of the previous year. The officers arrived at approximately 7 am, prepared to investigate allegations related to the possession of illegal material. During questioning, Kirkman was asked directly whether his computer contained any indecent images, to which he responded affirmatively. Following this, he was questioned further by detectives, but he chose to answer with 'no comment' when asked about the contents of his hard drive.

Subsequent analysis of the computer’s hard drive revealed the presence of multiple illegal videos. Specialists examined the device and uncovered a disturbing collection of indecent films involving children. The investigation uncovered that Kirkman had used specific internet search terms such as 'pre-teen hard core,' 'underage,' 'Lolita,' '13-year-olds,' and '14-year-olds,' indicating a deliberate attempt to find material depicting minors engaged in sexual acts.

Authorities identified a total of 17 Category A films, which are classified as the most serious, involving children around the age of 10, both boys and girls, in explicit scenarios with other children and adults. Additionally, there were three Category B films and six more classified as Category B, all containing similarly disturbing content.

At Derby Crown Court, prosecutor Sarah Allen detailed the findings, emphasizing the gravity of the offences. She explained that Kirkman, aged 47 and with no prior convictions, pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent moving images of children. The court was told that the images depicted minors in sexual situations, which is a grave violation of child protection laws.

Judge Jonathan Bennett sentenced Kirkman to nine months in prison, suspended for two years, highlighting the seriousness of the crimes. The judge stated, “These offences are regarded as very serious because these are real children being abused. You are sitting in your room watching them obtaining sexual gratification from that.”

In addition to the suspended sentence, Kirkman was ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work, pay £300 towards prosecution costs, and have the hard drive from his Ripley home destroyed. The court also mandated that he participate in 25 days of rehabilitation, working with experts to understand the root causes of his offending behavior and to address the underlying issues that led to his actions.

During the proceedings, Kirkman’s defense solicitor, Miss Rashid, inquired whether the conviction would likely result in him losing his employment. The court confirmed that this was indeed probable, adding to the personal repercussions of his criminal conduct. The case underscores the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat the distribution and possession of illegal images of minors, and the severe penalties faced by those found guilty of such offences.