SANDHURST MAN STEVEN PURCHASE SENTENCED FOR CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE IN WEST SUSSEX

In April 2017, Steven Purchase, a resident of Sandhurst, was scheduled to be released into the Arundel area of West Sussex after serving part of his sentence. This release followed a series of serious criminal convictions related to child sexual abuse and possession of indecent images.

Back in April 2014, Purchase was convicted and sentenced to a lengthy prison term for heinous crimes involving a young girl. The court heard that Purchase, who lived on Severn Close in Sandhurst, had sexually abused a seven-year-old girl and had downloaded nearly 6,500 indecent images of children. The images ranged from infants to teenagers, with the majority classified as level one, indicating less severe material, but also included some at level two, three, and four. Notably, there were no images categorized as the most severe level five.

The case was brought to light when the young girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, revealed that she had been sexually assaulted by Purchase in his home. The incident reportedly occurred in July 2012, after the girl had been out for a meal with her family. Following this, her behavior changed significantly; she became more self-conscious, shy, and nervous, and exhibited signs of anger and confusion. Her mother noticed her daughter's unusual behavior, which prompted further investigation.

During the trial that commenced on February 4 of that year at Reading Crown Court, the court was told that Purchase had persuaded the girl to perform a sexual act on him while they were both naked in his living room. The court also heard that Purchase, who worked in IT, was arrested after police found two computers in his possession containing the thousands of indecent images of children. The images depicted children aged between 12 months and 16 years.

In his initial police interview, Purchase denied possessing any material other than adult pornography. However, subsequent evidence proved otherwise, with authorities confirming that he had knowingly downloaded and stored the images for his own gratification. The court also learned that the young girl referred to Purchase as her boyfriend, a term she used because he was a male friend, although Purchase had lied about not calling himself her boyfriend.

Judge Angela Morris, presiding over the case, acknowledged Purchase's previously good character, noting that he was 35 years old at the time of the crimes and had a stable life, including a wife and a career in computing. Despite this, the judge emphasized that behind this facade was a person capable of serious criminal acts.

Purchase was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison. The sentence included seven years for encouraging a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, which would run consecutively to a six-month sentence for three counts of making indecent images of a child under 13. Additionally, Purchase was ordered to have his computers destroyed and was placed on the sex offenders’ register for life. He was previously discharged of one count of sexual assault of a child under 13 and another count of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

In a related case from February 2014, Purchase was found guilty of causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity during a trial at Reading Crown Court. He admitted to three counts of making indecent photographs of a child under 13. He was scheduled for sentencing on March 21 at the same court, where he faced further penalties for his actions in Sandhurst and West Sussex.