STEVEN RYAN FROM TONGE MOOR JAILED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY IN BOLTON

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the Bolton community, Steven Ryan, a 45-year-old magician from Tonge Moor, has been sentenced to six months in prison after being found in possession of over 600 images of child pornography. The conviction highlights the serious nature of his offenses and raises concerns about the safety of children in environments where Ryan was known to work as an entertainer.

Ryan, who performed at children’s parties and school events across Bolton, was known locally as a children's entertainer. He advertised his services under the name Steve Ryan Magical Children’s Entertainer in the Yellow Pages and was previously employed as a club representative abroad. Despite his professional facade, Ryan’s personal life took a dark turn when authorities uncovered his involvement with indecent images of minors.

The investigation was initiated after a man who purchased a laptop from Ryan for £200 discovered inappropriate images stored on the device. The buyer, upon finding approximately 651 images, reported his findings to the police. The images included around 100 that were classified in the most severe categories of indecency, indicating serious child abuse material. This discovery prompted a police raid on Ryan’s residence in August of the previous year.

During the raid, detectives seized multiple computer files containing the illicit images. A second computer was also recovered, which held additional indecent material. The police investigation revealed that Ryan had no recent contact with children and had taken steps to prevent further bookings by changing his home telephone number. It was also noted that Ryan walks with a pronounced limp due to his false leg and suffers from breathing difficulties, which did not hinder his criminal activities.

Judge Hope expressed concern over Ryan’s role as a children’s entertainer and his attempts to manipulate a child into finding a chatroom for him. Initially, Ryan denied the charges, claiming that he was viewing adult pornography when the images appeared on his screen. However, in May, he pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing indecent images and 19 counts of making such images by downloading them from the internet over an 11-month period.

During sentencing, Judge Derwin Hope emphasized the gravity of the case, stating, “Many of these images depict really serious child abuse. It is impossible to escape the conclusion that this is so serious that only a custodial sentence is just.” The court’s decision reflects the severity of the offenses and the need to protect the public from individuals involved in such heinous acts.

Defense lawyer Philip Martin acknowledged the reprehensible nature of the crimes but highlighted Ryan’s previous good character and his awareness of having a problem. He explained that Ryan was searching for legitimate adult pornography but inadvertently encountered child abuse images, which he clicked on without understanding the dangers involved.

Detective Maggie Lane from Bolton Police, who was involved in the investigation, welcomed the sentence, stating, “We’re very pleased with the result. The pictures were on the highest scale of indecency. It’s shocking that this man had access to children through his work. I’m sure this comes as a relief to anyone who had this man visit their home as an entertainer.”

In addition to his prison sentence, Ryan was ordered to register as a sex offender for the next ten years. The images have been destroyed, and the court’s ruling aims to prevent any further risk to children. A local council spokesperson commented on the case, emphasizing that while all staff and volunteers working with children undergo checks, occasional visitors such as tradesmen and postal workers are not routinely screened by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES). The spokesperson reaffirmed that individual schools are responsible for hiring entertainers and ensuring their suitability, but this case underscores the importance of vigilance and thorough vetting processes.