DAWLISH MAN STEPHEN WALFORD CAUGHT WITH CHILD SEX FILMS AT EXETER CROWN COURT

In July 2016, a disturbing case emerged involving Stephen Walford, a resident of Dawlish, who faced serious allegations related to the possession and distribution of indecent images of children. The proceedings took place at Exeter Crown Court, where Walford, aged 25 and residing on North Lodge Drive in Dawlish, admitted to four counts of making indecent images of minors.

The investigation was initiated when police executed a warrant at Walford’s home in July 2015. During the search, authorities discovered a total of 25 movies stored across two electronic devices, including a laptop and a tablet. The police examination revealed that some of these illicit images originated from music file-sharing sites such as Ares. Further analysis of Walford’s computer history uncovered searches for terms like 'PTHC,' an abbreviation for 'pre-teen hard core,' as well as phrases like 'young teens, aged 11 or 12' and 'Lolita.'

Walford claimed to be naive about the nature of some of these search terms, asserting he did not understand what 'PTHC' stood for. However, the evidence showed that the majority of the movies—specifically 21 out of 25—were classified as the most severe category, depicting adults engaging in sexual acts with children aged approximately eight to fifteen. Among these was a particularly disturbing 22-minute film showing a girl of about nine being repeatedly raped by an adult male. The judge described this film as 'particularly disturbing,' emphasizing the severity of the content involved.

Prosecutor Miss Janice Eagles detailed that the police found these movies on Walford’s devices and that some of the images had been sourced from file-sharing sites. The investigation revealed that Walford had actively searched for and viewed content involving children in sexual situations, which he admitted to the police. Despite his claims of naivety, the evidence pointed to a troubling pattern of interest in child exploitation material.

Walford, who was previously a management trainee at a fast food outlet, had a history of surviving a severe motorcycle accident in Blagdon near Newton Abbot in 2010. Following his recovery, he was involved in fundraising efforts for the Devon Air Ambulance and had aspirations to train as a doctor. However, due to his injuries, he is now unemployed and living on disability living allowance.

At the hearing, Recorder Mr. Paul Dunkels, QC, sentenced Walford to a three-year community order, which includes participation in the Internet Sex Offenders’ Treatment Programme. The judge acknowledged the disturbing nature of some of the images but emphasized that a community order was appropriate, considering mitigating factors such as Walford’s age at the time of some offenses and his lack of maturity. The court also ordered Walford to sign the sex offenders’ register and warned that he could still face imprisonment.

Judge Dunkels stated, ‘The details of some of the moving images outlined in this case are particularly disturbing but I take the view that a community order is a proper alternative to custody. I have regard to a number of mitigating factors. The offences cover a range of times including when you were in your late teens and early 20s, when you were lacking maturity.’

In summary, this case highlights the serious nature of online child exploitation and the legal consequences faced by individuals involved in such activities. Walford’s case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to combat child abuse in all its forms.