WHITEFIELD BUSINESSMAN STEPHEN TAUBER SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEX OFFENSES ON THE INTERNET

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Whitefield, a local businessman named Stephen Tauber has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison after being found guilty of engaging in illegal and predatory online activities involving minors.

According to court proceedings at Bolton Crown Court, the 62-year-old man used the internet to lure young girls into engaging with him through chat rooms, where he pretended to be a much younger individual, claiming to be 19 years old. His deception was part of a calculated effort to exploit vulnerable minors for his own gratification.

The prosecution, led by William Blake, detailed how Tauber initially contacted a 12-year-old girl in 2013 via the Teen Chat website. During their conversations, he engaged in sexually explicit talk, attempting to persuade her to watch him perform indecent acts. The court was told that his actions were not isolated, as in February 2014, he continued his predatory behavior by chatting with another girl, this time exposing himself and urinating in front of her through a webcam. He also engaged in sexual conversations with her and performed a sex act in her presence.

Further disturbing details emerged when, on February 21, 2014, Tauber continued communication with the same girl, claiming she was 13 and requesting her to send him photographs of herself. During this exchange, he insisted that he would not have sex with anyone under 16, claiming, “I’m not one of those vile guys,” attempting to justify his actions.

Authorities from the National Crime Agency (NCA) executed a raid on Tauber’s residence in Warwick Avenue, Whitefield, last August. During the search, officers uncovered substantial evidence of his online conversations with the girls, along with a collection of child sexual abuse images stored on his laptop. The investigation revealed that Tauber had previously used his mobile phone to seek information about police efforts to apprehend paedophiles, indicating premeditation and awareness of the criminal nature of his activities.

The forensic examination of his devices uncovered ten indecent images of children, including three classified as the most serious Category A, depicting children aged between five and ten years old. When questioned by police, Tauber admitted that he derived sexual gratification from using chat rooms and communicating with the girls, who have since been untraceable by authorities.

Tauber pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including two counts of attempting to cause a child under 16 to engage in sexual activity, two counts of attempting to engage in sexual activity with a child, and two counts of making indecent images of children. His sentencing was handed down by Judge Timothy Clayson, the Honorary Recorder of Bolton, who emphasized the severity of his crimes. Tauber was sentenced to two years and six months in prison, and he was also ordered to be placed on the sex offenders’ register for life. Additionally, he will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order, ensuring ongoing monitoring and restrictions to prevent further offenses.

This case highlights the ongoing dangers posed by online predators and the importance of vigilance in protecting minors from exploitation and abuse, especially in communities like Whitefield where such disturbing activities have now come to light.