STEVE O’NEIL FROM EYNSHAM CAUGHT IN SHOCKING WEBCAM INCIDENT INVOLVING YOUNG GIRLS IN OXFORD

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Eynsham and the surrounding areas, Steven O’Neil, a 46-year-old man residing on Evans Road in Eynsham, was found guilty of engaging in highly inappropriate and illegal online activities involving underage girls. The incident, which came to light in June 2013, involved O’Neil using the internet to exploit young victims through webcam footage, leading to serious criminal charges and a significant legal response.

O’Neil admitted to two counts of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of girls under the age of 16. The charges stemmed from a series of manipulative online interactions where he posed as a 15-year-old boy on Facebook, luring young girls into revealing themselves via webcam. His victims included a 13-year-old girl and a 12-year-old girl, both of whom were deceived into viewing live footage of O’Neil exposing himself and masturbating on two separate occasions in August 2010.

The police investigation was triggered when O’Neil allegedly exposed himself to another girl through his webcam. This girl, alarmed and distressed by what she saw, confided in her mother, who promptly contacted Thames Valley Police. Initially, O’Neil denied any wrongdoing, claiming that the incident was accidental, which led to the case being dropped at that time. However, further investigation uncovered contact details of two additional victims on his computer. Authorities then reached out to these girls, leading to the eventual charges.

Prosecutor Cathy Olliver described the victims’ reactions, stating that both girls were deeply shocked and upset by what they had witnessed. Both immediately turned off their webcams upon realizing what was happening, but the emotional damage had already been inflicted. The case revealed the disturbing extent of O’Neil’s actions and the impact on the young victims.

During the court proceedings, O’Neil’s defense lawyer, Claire Fraser, expressed remorse and highlighted the mental health struggles faced by her client. She revealed that O’Neil was so overwhelmed by guilt and shame that he had attempted to take his own life on four separate occasions. Fraser explained that the breakdown of O’Neil’s marriage appeared to have been a catalyst for his online misconduct. She emphasized that he had not committed any further offenses in the nearly three years since the incidents and that he was actively trying to make amends by contributing positively to the community.

As part of his sentence, O’Neil was ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register and was placed under a Sexual Offences Prevention Order, which prohibits him from having contact with girls under 16. The court, presided over by Judge Gordon Risius at Oxford Crown Court, sentenced him to 15 months in prison, suspended for two years. Additionally, he was subjected to two years of supervision and required to participate in a one-year sexual offenders treatment program. O’Neil was also ordered to pay £600 towards prosecution costs.

Judge Risius emphasized the seriousness of the offenses, noting that the incidents must have been extremely upsetting for the young girls involved. He pointed out that O’Neil’s plea indicated he believed the victims were under 16 and that he was aware of their age, which compounded the gravity of his actions. The judge’s ruling reflects the court’s recognition of the profound harm caused by such online predatory behavior and the importance of safeguarding vulnerable minors from exploitation.