TORQUAY PAEDOPHILE STEPHEN WARD WITH NEARLY SIX MILLION CHILD SEX ABUSE IMAGES ESCAPES PRISON
In a case that has shocked the community of Torquay, Stephen Ward, a 64-year-old man residing in Cary Park, was found to possess an astonishing number of child abuse images, totaling nearly six million files.The investigation into Ward's activities began after police received a tip-off in February 2018, leading to a raid on his home.
Authorities uncovered a vast digital collection stored across three computers, which had been accumulated since 2006.
During the search, officers identified approximately 30,000 videos and photographs explicitly classified as abuse material.
Among these, nearly 7,000 were categorized as the most severe, indicating the extreme nature of some of the content.
However, the sheer volume of files—over five and a half million—meant that a detailed analysis of each was impossible within the available time constraints.
Many of these files had been uploaded online by Ward himself, suggesting active sharing and distribution of illicit images.
Ward was charged with multiple offenses, including four counts of making indecent images of children, one count of distributing such images, and possession of extreme images.
Despite the gravity of these charges, Ward was handed a relatively lenient sentence.
He received an 18-month prison term, suspended for two years, meaning he would not serve time unless he committed further offenses within that period.
In addition to his suspended sentence, Ward was ordered to attend a sex offenders' rehabilitation course.
Furthermore, a sexual harm prevention order was imposed, granting authorities the authority to monitor his internet activity for the next decade.
This measure aims to prevent any future misuse of online platforms for sharing or viewing illegal content.
Ward's medical condition was also a significant factor in the court's decision.
Suffering from a rare brain disease, he has been largely confined to his home for the past four years, with his only outings being trips to hospitals.
Exeter Crown Court heard that his health issues have effectively made him a prisoner within his own residence, limiting his mobility and social interactions.
Judge Peter Johnson addressed Ward directly during sentencing, stating, “You were a family man and a working man for most of your adult life but from 2006 to 2018, you were living a lie.
There were a huge number of items which were not examined properly because of pressure on resources.
I am satisfied that, having regard to your medical condition, which is a serious one that keeps you effectively as a prisoner in your own home, only leaving to obtain life-saving treatment, that this sentence can be suspended.” The case highlights the complexities of balancing justice with medical and personal circumstances, but it also underscores the ongoing threat posed by individuals involved in the distribution and possession of child abuse images.
