STEVE WORLEY FROM BUSHEY ESCAPES JAIL DESPITE OVER 600 CHILD PORNOGRAPHY FILMS FOUND IN HIS HOME NEAR NORTHWOOD

In a case that has shocked the local community, Steven Worley, a resident of Bushey near Watford, was found to possess an alarming collection of child pornography materials during a police raid conducted in November 2009. Despite the severity of the evidence, Worley was spared a prison sentence after admitting to multiple charges related to the possession and download of indecent images of children.

Authorities executed a search warrant at Worley's residence, where they uncovered a laptop and two external hard drives. In a bid to conceal one of the hard drives, Worley attempted to hide it by sitting on it beneath a cushion, a detail revealed during court proceedings. The police investigation revealed that Worley had downloaded and stored a significant number of illicit images and videos, with the court hearing that he possessed over 600 child pornography films.

The case was heard at St Albans Crown Court, where the prosecution outlined the disturbing nature of the material found. The images were categorized into different levels of severity, with 31 films classified at the most serious level five. Over 300 images were rated at level four, 40 at level three, 100 at level two, and 133 at level one. The police seized a variety of images, including one at level five, seven at level four, 12 at level three, two at level two, and 21 at level one.

Worley's defense attorney, Mark Kimsey, emphasized that his client, who was 55 years old at the time and living in Bushey, was of previously good character and expressed a desire to address his behavior. The court was informed that Worley had no prior criminal record and that he had shown remorse for his actions.

Judge Stephen Gullick delivered a sentence that reflected the seriousness of the offenses but also considered Worley's circumstances. He imposed a three-year community order on Worley, with the condition that he participate in a sex offender’s rehabilitation program. Additionally, Worley was subjected to a 15-year order restricting his contact with children and was required to sign the sex offenders register for a period of five years.

In his sentencing remarks, Judge Gullick acknowledged Worley's early guilty plea, stating, “You had the good sense to plead guilty at an early stage. The appropriate thing to do is to take a course of action I hope will turn you away from using this material again.” The judge’s decision aimed to balance the need for punishment with the hope of rehabilitation, given the circumstances of the case and Worley's previous good character.