STEVEN KNIGHT'S SHOCKING CRIME IN BREDON: SCHOOL BUS DRIVER ESCAPES JAIL DESPITE HORRIFIC IMAGES

In September 2021, a disturbing case unfolded involving Steven Knight, a 48-year-old bus driver from Bredon, Worcestershire, who was found to possess an alarming collection of over 540,000 images and videos depicting sexual abuse. Despite the severity of his crimes, Knight narrowly avoided imprisonment, a decision that has sparked outrage among his own family members.

During a court hearing at Worcester Crown Court, it was revealed that Knight had downloaded a staggering total of 541,835 illicit images and videos between July 2015 and October of the previous year. Among these, 85 videos and 267 images were classified as the most serious Category A content, which included disturbing footage of infants in extreme discomfort being subjected to abuse or torture. The material also included extreme animal pornography and images of young children in their underwear, highlighting the disturbing nature of his collection.

Prosecutor Siobhan Collins explained that Knight admitted to collecting this material because he found it sexually arousing. He claimed that his interest was initially triggered when his computer was hacked, exposing him to such content. Collins emphasized that Knight acknowledged his collection was for his own gratification and explicitly described him as a paedophile based on his interest in these images.

Further disturbing details emerged during the proceedings. It was disclosed that Knight had secretly taken photographs of schoolchildren on the bus he was driving, raising serious concerns about his conduct and the safety of the children he was responsible for transporting. Additionally, he had manipulated a woman’s Facebook profile picture, which showed her with her baby, to include an image of him lying naked next to them, indicating a pattern of inappropriate and invasive behavior.

Judge Martin Jackson addressed the court, noting the impact of Covid-19 restrictions on prison conditions. He explained that inmates were confined to their cells for up to 23 hours a day, which influenced his sentencing decision. The judge described Knight’s crimes as utterly disgusting and abhorrent, stating, “I have to sentence you for a series of offences many people – indeed I think any decent right-thinking person – would consider to be disgusting and abhorrent.”

However, considering the current prison environment, Judge Jackson decided that immediate custody would serve more as punishment than as a means of rehabilitation. He expressed skepticism about the possibility of meaningful rehabilitation under the current circumstances, stating, “No meaningful rehabilitation is being done (with prisoners) if it can be done at all.”

Consequently, Knight was sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for two years. He was also ordered to register as a sex offender, complete 180 hours of unpaid community work, participate in a 45-day rehabilitation program, and pay £300 in court costs. The ruling has been met with strong disapproval from Knight’s family members, who attended the court hearing and expressed their outrage.

One disowned relative broke down in tears, criticizing the sentence as a “joke” and asserting that Knight should have been jailed. “I’m not happy about it. He should have gone down. You can’t rehabilitate people like that,” they said. Another sibling, visibly upset, added, “I was in tears. Too much came out in court. You can see the smirk on his face. When is Covid going to stop being an excuse for not sending people to jail?” The case has left many questioning the adequacy of the justice system in handling such heinous crimes.