ELLESMERE PORT MAN GRAHAM STINTON CAUGHT WITH OVER 3,000 CHILD SEX IMAGES IN SHOCKING CASE

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the community of Ellesmere Port, Graham Andrew Stinton, a 50-year-old man, was found to have downloaded and possessed an alarming number of indecent images of children. The incident came to light after Stinton created a false online persona on Facebook, posing as a teenage girl, which ultimately led to his arrest and subsequent court proceedings.

According to court records, Stinton devised an online alter-ego under the name Hanna Simpson, claiming to be a 14-year-old girl. Through this fake profile, he engaged in conversations with other men who shared similar sexual interests, some of whom were also pretending to be teenagers. The Chester Crown Court heard that Stinton’s activities extended beyond mere messaging; he actively downloaded and stored a significant collection of illicit images and videos.

The investigation was initiated when an email account, created by Stinton under the Hanna persona, was flagged by an American-based child protection centre. This email account was found to be uploading indecent images onto various social media platforms, including Facebook and Tagged. Authorities traced the account back to Stinton’s then-residential address in Ellesmere Port. Police officers visited his home in November 2011, but at that time, Stinton was not present, and his wife and children were unaware of his online activities.

Subsequently, Stinton returned home and was questioned by officers. Initially denying involvement, he soon admitted to the police that he was responsible for the email account and the uploading of the illicit images. The police seized his computer equipment, which revealed a staggering total of 3,244 images and 228 videos depicting young girls aged between three and thirteen years old. Additionally, nine more obscene images were discovered on a mobile phone belonging to Stinton.

Stinton faced multiple charges, including 17 counts of possessing indecent images and videos of children, with the material dating from June 2010 to November 2011. Prosecutor Gordon Hennell explained that some of the images were classified as level four and five, indicating the most extreme content, involving sexual acts between young girls and adult men. The court was told that Stinton had created various email addresses to facilitate the uploading and sharing of these images, which he used to communicate with other individuals interested in similar material.

In his police interview, Stinton claimed that he downloaded the images to make his Facebook profile, Hanna, more appealing to other users. Evidence from Facebook confirmed that he had initiated conversations with other individuals, although there was no evidence to suggest he had ever attempted to contact children directly. The court heard that Stinton’s actions were part of a broader pattern of online activity involving multiple men interested in child exploitation.

During the proceedings, Stinton’s defense lawyer, Andrew Thomas, highlighted that the defendant’s relationship with his wife and children had deteriorated significantly following the discovery of his offences. Mr. Thomas emphasized that Stinton had shown genuine remorse, shame, and disgust for his actions. Furthermore, he had been voluntarily attending sex offender treatment sessions organized by the Lucy Faithfull Foundation, a child protection charity.

Judge Roger Dutton addressed the court, acknowledging the seriousness of the offences but also considering the defendant’s cooperation and efforts to seek help. While he noted that a custodial sentence was warranted, the judge decided to suspend the prison term, taking into account Stinton’s immediate admission of guilt and his participation in rehabilitation programs. Consequently, Stinton was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years. He was also ordered to sign the sex offenders’ register for the next ten years and placed under a two-year supervision order. This order requires him to complete the Northumbria Sex Offender Groupwork Programme and adhere to an indefinite sexual offences prevention order, which bans him from accessing pornography and imposes strict conditions on his internet use.

Judge Dutton warned Stinton that any further offences or failure to comply with the court’s orders within the next two years would result in an immediate prison sentence. The case has raised serious concerns about online safety and the importance of vigilance in preventing child exploitation in the Ellesmere Port area.