STEPHEN READ FROM BUSSAGE SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENCES IN GLOUCESTER

In September 2013, Stephen Read, a businessman residing in Bussage near Stroud, was sentenced to 30 months in prison after being convicted of multiple child sex offences. The 58-year-old founder and managing director of Enviro Technology Services, a company valued at several million pounds, faced a series of serious allegations that spanned over a decade.

Read was found guilty of five charges related to the abuse of four boys, with incidents dating back to 1997 and continuing until May 2012. The court heard that during this period, Read took the boys on various trips, including shooting, swimming, and fishing excursions. He also regularly transported them in his car and took them aboard his boat, creating opportunities for inappropriate conduct. During these outings, he indecently or sexually assaulted two of the boys, and he also caused others to view pornography, further compounding the severity of his actions.

The allegations surfaced after one of the victims' mothers overheard a conversation in which her son referred to Read as a 'paedo.' This revelation prompted an investigation, which uncovered a pattern of misconduct. Read initially denied all 15 charges brought against him, maintaining his innocence throughout the trial.

During the proceedings at Gloucester Crown Court, Judge Jamie Tabor described Read's crimes as a