CHELMSFORD MAN STEPHEN TUNSTILL AVOIDS JAIL DESPITE CHILD ABUSE IMAGE CHARGES

In a case that has shocked the community of Chelmsford, Stephen Tunstill, aged 58, was found guilty of possessing and downloading indecent images of children, as well as extreme pornography. Despite the severity of his offences, Tunstill was not sentenced to prison but instead received a community order that will keep him under supervision for the next three years.

On the day of sentencing at Chelmsford Crown Court, Judge Recorder Patricia Lynch QC acknowledged the gravity of Tunstill’s actions but chose a rehabilitative approach over incarceration. She explicitly told him, "It’s all very well crying through your police interview. You’ve got to man up." The judge further stated, "You deserve to go to prison but I have a duty not to leave your problem untreated."

Instead of jail, Tunstill was ordered to participate in an internet sex offenders programme, a measure aimed at addressing his underlying issues. Additionally, he is required to remain on the sex offenders register for five years and must adhere to a sex offenders prevention order, which imposes restrictions on his online activity and contact.

Prosecutor Sorrell Cameron detailed the evidence against Tunstill, revealing that police found ten still images on his laptop, categorized at various levels of severity, including one at level one, one at level two, four at level three, and four at level four. The images included a 36-second video depicting a child at level four, along with six images classified as extreme pornography. These findings came after police visited Tunstill’s residence in September, following a prior caution he had received in 2011 for similar offences.

During police interviews, Tunstill admitted to having an addiction to pornography and expressed a desire to be caught, claiming he wanted help for his problem. His defense lawyer, Caroline Noonan, described him as feeling hopeless, addicted, and disgusted with himself. She emphasized that Tunstill recognized his issues and believed he would inevitably be caught, which he apparently welcomed.

Despite the disturbing nature of his crimes, the court opted for a community-based sentence, highlighting the ongoing debate about how best to handle offenders with such serious allegations while balancing punishment and rehabilitation.