STEPHEN WALTON FROM GLOUCESTER JAILED FOR HALF A MILLION CHILD PORN IMAGES FOUND ON HIS COMPUTER

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Gloucester, police uncovered an alarming cache of child abuse images on the computer of Stephen Walton, a 37-year-old man residing in the city. The investigation was initiated after authorities received a crucial tip-off from Interpol, which led to a detailed search of Walton's home and the subsequent discovery of an extensive collection of illicit material.

On February 23, police raided Walton's residence located on Deans Way in Gloucester. During the operation, Walton was present and reportedly responded to the officers' arrival with a chilling remark, saying, "I’ve been expecting this." The officers found Walton's computer, which contained a staggering total of over 486,000 indecent images of children, according to police assessments. Among these images, more than 1,100 were classified at the highest level of depravity, including 15 videos and 1,164 images categorized as level five, indicating the most severe form of child exploitation.

Prosecutor Giles Nelson provided detailed insights into the nature of the material found. He explained that Walton's computer was used not only for virtual reality gaming, which he reportedly engaged in for up to 20 hours daily, but also for viewing and storing illegal images. The court was informed that Walton had also taken photographs of children in his neighborhood, specifically children playing in their back gardens about six years prior. These photographs depicted children in swimwear and were deemed non-indecent, but they added to the overall context of Walton's disturbing behavior.

Further investigation revealed that Walton had admitted to police that he had taken these neighborhood photographs. The sheer volume of illicit images and videos on his computer, coupled with his previous offenses, painted a troubling picture of his activities. Walton's defense team described him as leading an isolated and chaotic life within his parents' home, emphasizing his desire for help and noting that his family remained supportive.

Despite these mitigating factors, the presiding judge, Recorder Ben Compton QC, expressed grave concern over Walton's actions. He highlighted the disturbing nature of Walton's prolonged and obsessive use of his computer for viewing child pornography, which he described as deeply troubling. The judge acknowledged Walton's personal issues but emphasized the importance of protecting the public from such offenses. Given the volume of material and the fact that Walton committed further offenses while on police bail, the court decided that only a custodial sentence was appropriate.

Consequently, Walton was sentenced to a year in prison, reflecting the severity of his crimes and the need for immediate detention to prevent further harm.