STEVE MACLEAN IN COLCHESTER JAILED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY OFFENSES

In July 2009, a man from Colchester was sentenced to prison for possessing more than 100 indecent films featuring children. Police discovered the movies on Stephen Maclean’s computer after receiving a tip-off from a user of the file-sharing site BearShare in February of that year.

Maclean, aged 29, had his computer seized from his home on Timber Hill, which he shared with his wife—who was pregnant at the time—and their two children. An investigation revealed there were 101 movies stored on his hard drive, including six classified at the highest level of indecency involving sadism and bestiality, and 74 at the second level, depicting sexual activity between children and adults.

Chelmsford Crown Court heard that Maclean admitted to downloading indecent films of children dating back to 2000. During proceedings, Paul Baker, representing Maclean, explained that this activity began around the time Maclean was giving evidence against a man accused of abusing him from the age of 11. That case later fell apart on a technicality, leaving Maclean feeling demoralised, depressed, and isolated.

Mr. Baker stated: “He was searching for legal movies when he came across these indecent films, which he found arousing, particularly involving children aged between 11 and 12. He was disgusted by his behaviour and deleted the films but re-downloaded them later when he was more depressed. He was unaware that other people could access these files through the file-sharing site.”

The solicitor emphasized that Maclean was of previously good character and unlikely to act on these fantasies physically, noting he was still coming to terms with his actions.

Additionally, Mr. Baker mentioned that Maclean had lost employment: he was dismissed from his role as an after-hours cleaner at a children’s nursery and later left a position at a burger restaurant. Maclean also moved out of his family home into rented accommodation in St Alban’s Road and had limited, supervised contact with his children.

In his sentencing remarks, Judge Anthony Goldstaub sentenced Maclean to six months in prison, with three months to be served behind bars and three months on licence. The judge ordered the destruction of Maclean's computer hard drive. He stated: “Offences of this kind are very serious—if people like you didn’t watch these films, the children would not be abused. I have taken your guilty plea into account, along with the devastating impact on your family. The consequences will continue to reverberate. I hope you will seek help when you are released.”

Maclean was also placed on the barred list under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act, required to remain on the sex offenders’ register for ten years, and issued a sex offenders’ protection order restricting unsupervised contact with under-16s who are not his own children.