HORWICH PAEDOPHILE STEPHEN RAMSEY CAUGHT USING ELDERLY FATHER'S COMPUTER IN BOLD CRIME SPREE

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Horwich, Stephen Ramsey, a 59-year-old man with a troubling history, has been found guilty of accessing and downloading indecent images of young girls using his elderly father’s computer. The incident came to light after police investigations uncovered a series of illegal activities that took place within the confines of Ramsey’s family home.

Ramsey’s criminal record includes a conviction from Bolton Crown Court in 2008, where he was found in possession of indecent images of children. Following that conviction, he was subjected to a strict sexual offences prevention order, which explicitly prohibited him from accessing the internet on any private computer unless it was at a public library or the Quest Centre. This order was intended to prevent further offences and restrict his online activity.

However, in July of the previous year, authorities seized a computer from the residence of Ramsey’s elderly father, located in Horwich. During the investigation, officers discovered that Ramsey had used his father’s computer to download a total of 140 images classified as level one indecent images of children. These images depicted girls under the age of 13 and were considered among the least severe in terms of explicit content, but their possession remains a serious criminal offence.

The police investigation revealed that these illegal activities occurred between April 4 and July 25 of the previous year. Prosecutors highlighted that Ramsey had admitted to accessing these images shortly after his 2008 conviction, demonstrating a troubling pattern of behaviour. The fact that he used his father’s computer, without his father’s knowledge, put the elderly man at significant risk of prosecution, as he was unaware of his son’s violations of the court order.

Howard Sloane, representing the prosecution, stated, “He had used his father’s computer, patently putting his father at risk of prosecution.” The case underscored the breach of the court’s restrictions and the ongoing danger posed by Ramsey’s actions.

At Bolton Crown Court, Ramsey pleaded guilty to charges of possessing indecent photographs of children and breaching the sexual offences prevention order. His defense attorney, Peter Leather, emphasized that Ramsey had fully cooperated with police during the investigation. Despite this cooperation, the court recognized the seriousness of his offences and the potential threat to public safety.

In sentencing, Judge Elliot Knopf imposed a three-year community order on Ramsey, along with an indefinite sexual offenders prevention order. Ramsey was also ordered to register as a sex offender for five years and to participate in the Northumbria Sex Offender Group Work Programme, which aims to reduce the risk of reoffending among men with similar criminal histories. The case remains ongoing, with Ramsey scheduled to appear again at Bolton Crown Court on February 26 for further proceedings.