BRADFORD ON AVON PAEDOPHILE DAVID STEPHENS SENT BACK TO PRISON OVER CHILD SEX ABUSE IMAGES

In October 2019, David Stephens, a convicted sex offender from Bradford on Avon, was once again placed behind bars after police uncovered disturbing child sex abuse images on his electronic devices. This revelation came as a result of a police investigation that targeted Stephens, who has a long and troubling history with the criminal justice system.

Stephens, now 64 years old, had previously been sentenced to life imprisonment in 1999 following his conviction for five separate rapes and multiple sexual assaults involving children. His heinous crimes had shocked the community and garnered widespread media attention. After serving his sentence, he was released on licence in 2012, under strict conditions designed to monitor and restrict his access to potentially harmful material and situations.

However, his freedom was short-lived. On August 28, police executed a raid on his residence after receiving an anonymous tip-off. During the operation, officers seized several electronic devices, including a Dell computer. Forensic analysis of the seized computer revealed that Stephens had downloaded a total of 49 disturbing images depicting children as young as five being molested. Alarmingly, some of these images had been deleted by Stephens on the morning of the raid, indicating an attempt to conceal his activities. Evidence also showed that Stephens had searched for terms such as “barely legal,” further underscoring his intent and involvement in viewing illegal material.

Following the discovery, Stephens was charged and pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children. His legal team, led by defense lawyer Alistair Haggerty, acknowledged that Stephens had made full admissions and expressed remorse for his actions. Haggerty also pointed out that Stephens had not been involved in any incidents for the past seven years since his release on licence, and that the number of images found was relatively low compared to similar cases.

Judge Peter Crabtree sentenced Stephens to an additional eight months in prison for his crimes related to the indecent images. In his remarks, the judge emphasized the serious harm caused by such material, stating, “Anyone who engages in downloading child sexual abuse images is involved in fueling a business which results in those children being the subject of psychological harm – sometimes over many, many years.”

Stephens’ criminal history dates back to 1971, with his first recorded offenses involving theft and burglary. In 1984, he was accused of terrorizing residents in Chippenham, where he resided at the time, by committing 37 burglaries and thefts from clotheslines, often stealing women’s underwear and children’s clothing to satisfy his sickening urges. He also stole documents and photographs from his victims, which he used to compile dossiers on them, further demonstrating his predatory behavior.

His 1999 conviction at Swindon Crown Court marked a culmination of his long-standing pattern of sexual violence, including offenses against girls under the age of 13. His sentence was initially handed down as a life term but was later upheld on appeal. Despite his criminal past, Stephens was released from prison in April 2012 under strict licensing conditions that prohibited him from accessing electronic devices capable of connecting to the internet without police approval. His recent actions, however, have shown a blatant disregard for these restrictions, leading to his re-imprisonment and renewed concern over his potential threat to the community.