EARLEY MAN STEVEN PARTRIDGE SENTENCED FOR DISTURBING ONLINE SEXUAL OFFENSES INVOLVING FACEBOOK IMAGES AND PAEDOPHILE CHAT ROOMS IN READING

In September 2021, Steven Partridge, a resident of Delamere Road in Earley, found himself at the center of a disturbing case involving the exploitation of minors through social media and online chat platforms. The case unfolded at Reading Crown Court, where Partridge was brought to justice for his involvement in sharing explicit images and engaging in highly sexualized conversations related to a young girl, which has left a lasting impact on the victims and their families.

According to court records, Partridge, aged 41, had developed a troubling fetish for women’s underwear, which led him to download images of his friend’s daughter from Facebook. These images were then sent to a paedophile chat room, where he and another individual engaged in explicit and disturbing discussions about the girl. Partridge, who used the online alias ‘Jake Parsons,’ was part of a network that shared and discussed these images with others involved in similar illicit activities.

During police interviews following his arrest, Partridge claimed that his attraction was not to young girls themselves but rather to their underwear. He admitted to cross-dressing in such clothing, which he said was linked to his fetish. Despite his claims, the court found his actions to be deeply reprehensible, especially given the context of the images and conversations involved.

The case took a particularly emotional turn when the mother of the girl whose images Partridge had downloaded and shared addressed the court. She recounted her distress upon discovering what Partridge had done. She revealed that he had repeatedly asked her out on dates, which she refused, and she now believed his intentions were to get closer to her daughter. Her testimony conveyed the profound sense of violation and betrayal she felt, describing her feelings of horror and sickness upon learning of his actions.

She expressed her ongoing fears for her family’s safety, stating, “Since I had the phone call [about what Partridge had done], I felt horrified and sickened to my stomach that somebody I was friends with would use these images in such a sickening way. It has made me question everybody on my [Facebook] friends list. I’m now extremely cautious about what my daughter’s wear. I’m paranoid all the time. I no longer post pictures on my social media. I feel like I can no longer share my children’s achievements with my friends and family.”

Investigations revealed that Partridge had downloaded the images after establishing a friendship with the girl’s mother on Facebook. He then transmitted these images to a known paedophile, who was under surveillance by Derbyshire Constabulary. The police, upon discovering Partridge’s involvement, seized his devices when officers confronted him at his home in Earley. The evidence collected confirmed his participation in the illicit activities, leading to his arrest and subsequent court proceedings.

The mother of the girl described her sense of violation, emphasizing the emotional toll of the case. She said, “The fact he has been stealing pictures of my beautiful daughter is absolutely disgusting and breaks my heart. I can’t get it out of my head that he thought it was acceptable to post these images knowing these comments would be made. He has affected mine and my children’s lives massively. He has left me feeling over-cautious for their safety. This will not go away, and he should be held fully responsible.”

Prosecutor Stefan Weidmann highlighted that Partridge’s actions represented a breach of trust and a gross violation of personal boundaries. The judge, Judge Dugdale, described the case as “extremely unusual,” noting that it was the first time he had to sentence someone for such offenses. The judge detailed the disturbing nature of the conversations between Partridge and the other paedophile, which involved explicit and sexualized discussions about the young girl’s body.

Judge Dugdale emphasized the severity of the crime, stating, “You used these photos for your sexual pleasure. [The mother] is right when she says she feels her daughter has been completely violated because she has been completely violated. What you did was absolutely terrible. It was utterly horrible. It is a parent’s worst nightmare in the digital age. You don’t expect your friends to share your images online for their sexual gratification.”

He acknowledged the difficulty in sentencing Partridge due to the lack of specific guidelines for such cases but drew parallels to the possession of indecent images, considering the nature of the online messages and images involved. Partridge’s previous good character and remorse were also taken into account.

Ultimately, Partridge was handed a six-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, on six counts of publishing an obscene article. Additionally, he received a suspended sentence order for five counts of possessing indecent images. As part of his rehabilitation, he is required to participate in a two-year program and will be listed on the sex offenders register for seven years. After the sentencing, the mother of the girl confronted Partridge as he was led away, shouting, “She’s just a child, Stephen!”

Partridge’s case underscores the ongoing concerns about online exploitation and the importance of safeguarding minors in the digital age. His actions have left a lasting scar on the victims and serve as a stark reminder of the dangers lurking in online spaces.