YORK MAN ANDREW STEPHENSON JAILED FOR VOYEURISM AND CHILD SEX IMAGES IN YORK
In a serious case that has shocked the community of York, Andrew Stephenson, aged 38, has been sentenced to prison after being found guilty of multiple charges related to voyeurism and the possession and creation of indecent images of children.The case was heard at York Crown Court, where the details of Stephenson’s disturbing activities were laid bare.
According to prosecutor David Hewitt, Stephenson, who resides on Farro Drive in the Rawcliffe area of York, engaged in covert activities over an extended period.
Police investigations revealed that Stephenson had been acting as a voyeur for approximately 11 months, during which he used his mobile phone to secretly photograph women without their knowledge.
Many of these images were discovered on his device, some of which had been digitally altered to depict sexual scenarios involving minors.
The last of these illicit photographs was taken just a day before his arrest.
Further examination of Stephenson’s phone uncovered a disturbing pattern of behavior.
Police found numerous images that had been manipulated using computer software, specifically Adobe Photoshop, to create sexually explicit pseudoimages of children.
These images were not only stored on his device but also linked to search terms related to child sexual abuse on adult pornography websites.
The evidence indicated that Stephenson had downloaded and used software to conceal his online activities, including tools for wiping data and hiding his identity.
Stephenson’s arrest occurred on April 13, 2021, following a tip-off that prompted police to visit his residence.
During questioning, Stephenson initially expressed shock and denied any wrongdoing, claiming he had received inappropriate images via WhatsApp, which he claimed to have deleted and left the group chat.
He also admitted to joining Tumblr to access adult content but insisted he had removed any images involving minors.
However, further analysis of his phone revealed search terms and images consistent with child sexual exploitation.
Police found 21 images classified as the least serious category of child sexual abuse material, along with one video and three images in a more serious category.
These findings, combined with evidence of his use of Photoshop to alter images, painted a clear picture of his involvement in the creation and possession of illegal content.
In court, Judge Simon Hickey described the case as grave and emphasized the need for a strict punishment.
He stated, “In my judgement the only proper punishment that can be meted out in this case is an immediate prison sentence.” Consequently, Stephenson was sentenced to two years in prison.
Additionally, he was placed on the sex offenders’ register for a period of ten years and was prohibited from working with children or vulnerable adults.
The judge also imposed a comprehensive sexual harm prevention order, which included restrictions such as banning Stephenson from taking photographs of children, possessing devices capable of covert photography, forming sexual relationships without police notification, and using internet-enabled devices or online storage without police approval.
The order also forbids him from using software that conceals his online identity or wipes data from his devices.
Judge Hickey made it clear that Stephenson still posed a risk to the public, stating, “You still pose a risk to certain members of the public.” The case highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat online child exploitation and protect vulnerable members of society from such predatory behavior.
