EASTBOURNE PAEDOPHILE RECEIVES SUSPENDED SENTENCE FOR CHILD PORN

A paedophile who was found with child porn and bestiality images on his phone has been spared jail. Steven Cheffings was arrested at his home in Eastbourne after police tracked him online discussing abusing children, some as young as eight. He pleaded guilty to possessing 18 indecent category A, six category B, and eight category C images, along with extreme pornographic images of an animal and prohibited images of a child. Category A is the most severe. The 35-year-old was apprehended by Sussex Police on September 22, 2022. Upon arrest, he provided his phone and the pin code immediately, and was interviewed on the same day, during which he was told not to contact children or visit his home address. Cheffings, who is currently without a fixed address, has been in custody since December 28 due to breaching his bail conditions. His legal counsel highlighted his potential for rehabilitation and requested a suspended sentence. The court heard that Cheffings had a difficult childhood marked by abuse and witnessing domestic violence. His previous conviction involved possessing cocaine in 2012. Judge David Rennie condemned his actions, stating: “People who engage with this repulsive material help further an industry that abuses children in the worst ways possible. People like you can sit in dark rooms with access to this content. It is appalling.” Cheffings was sentenced to ten months in prison, suspended for two years, and ordered to complete 47 days of rehabilitation. Additionally, he was handed a ten-year sexual harm prevention order. The judge acknowledged his remorse and potential for reform, noting his background of childhood abuse and the need for therapy to move forward.