DAMIAN STEVENS FROM CRAWLEY ESCAPES JAIL AFTER VIEWING SHOCKING CHILD INDECENT IMAGES
In a case that has shocked the local community of Crawley, Damian Stevens, a 45-year-old man residing on Chevening Close, was brought before Brighton Crown Court to face serious allegations related to the possession and distribution of indecent images of children, as well as extreme pornography.Despite the gravity of the charges, Stevens was ultimately spared a custodial sentence, receiving a suspended term instead.
According to court records, Stevens pleaded guilty in September to three counts of making indecent images of children and one count of possessing extreme pornography.
The proceedings took place on Friday, October 19, with the judge, Recorder Matthew Butt, presiding over the case.
The court was informed that Sussex Police had traced an IP address linked to the upload of Category A indecent images in May 2016, which initiated the investigation.
Subsequently, on August 1, 2017, police executed a search warrant at Stevens’ residence in Crawley.
During the search, they seized his laptop, which contained a disturbing collection of illicit material.
On the same day, Stevens, who was away on a work-related trip, was detained upon his arrival at Heathrow Airport.
His mobile phone was also confiscated by authorities.
During his initial police interview, Stevens denied any involvement, claiming he had not knowingly downloaded the images.
However, forensic analysis of his devices revealed a troubling cache: 47 images classified as Category A, 53 as Category B, and 86 as Category C.
Additionally, seven images depicting extreme pornography were found.
Prosecutor Naomi Edwards detailed that during a police interview on January 15, Stevens admitted to having 'inadvertently' downloaded the illicit material.
Further investigation uncovered evidence of software designed to delete or hide files, raising concerns about his attempts to conceal his activities.
Initially, Stevens pleaded not guilty at a pre-trial hearing on June 20, but he changed his plea to guilty on September 7, just before the trial was scheduled to commence.
The court acknowledged that Stevens had a history of good character, which was considered a mitigating factor.
Nonetheless, the judge described the contents found on his devices as 'shocking' and emphasized the heinous nature of the crimes, noting that the images involved very young children being subjected to sexual abuse.
In delivering his sentence, Recorder Butt highlighted the severity of the offenses, stating, “These are real children who are being sexually abused in the most horrific ways.” He also pointed out that the age of the children involved was an aggravating factor.
Despite the seriousness of the case, the judge took into account Stevens’ previous mental health issues, which he acknowledged as a mitigating circumstance.
The judge also expressed that Stevens lacked insight into the gravity of his actions.
Rather than sending Stevens to prison, the court imposed a 20-month suspended sentence, meaning he would not serve time in custody unless he committed further offenses.
The judge explained that the decision was influenced by the impact a custodial sentence would have on Stevens’ family, who he described as 'all blameless in this.' “Were it not for the impact on them, you would have gone to prison today,” he remarked, adding, “You should consider yourself extremely fortunate.” In addition to the suspended sentence, Stevens was ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work, pay costs amounting to £1,500, and participate in a rehabilitation activity aimed at addressing his offending behavior.
The case has left a lasting impression on the Crawley community, highlighting the ongoing concerns about online safety and the protection of vulnerable children from exploitation.
