PETER STIDWORTHY'S CHILD PORN SCANDAL SHOCKS COVENTRY AND WHOBERLEY

In a disturbing case that has sent shockwaves through the communities of Coventry and Whoberley, former city councillor Peter Stidworthy has been sentenced to a six-month jail term, suspended for a period, after being found guilty of possessing and downloading a significant number of child pornography images. The details of the case reveal a troubling pattern of behavior that has marred his reputation and raised serious concerns about his conduct.

Stidworthy, aged 53, appeared before Coventry Crown Court to face charges related to the possession and creation of indecent images of children. The investigation was triggered when he took his computer to a repair shop in May of the previous year. During the repair process, technicians discovered a cache of illegal material stored on his device. Further searches at his residence in Lyndale Road, Whoberley, uncovered additional evidence, including DVDs containing similar images and videos, indicating a deliberate effort to conceal his activities.

The court was informed that Stidworthy had admitted to five counts of making indecent photographs of children and three counts of possessing such images. The total material involved 204 still images and 10 videos of children, with the images classified at levels one and two, which are considered less severe than the highest classification, level five. Despite the lower classification, the nature of the content was nonetheless illegal and deeply troubling.

Prosecutor Theresa Thorp detailed the findings, stating, “When he took his computer in for repair in May last year, 200 images of children were discovered. A subsequent search of his home revealed two DVDs containing a similar number of images, along with additional DVDs of images and movies. The manner in which he organized these files on his computer suggested a certain level of sophistication. Notably, he used a program called Privacy Guardian, which securely deletes browsing history and other data, making it difficult to trace his online activity. He configured Privacy Guardian to clean his internet history every two days, which explains the absence of usage logs.”

Defense attorney Steven Bailey argued that Stidworthy was currently employed at a local shop where he was held in high regard. Bailey also highlighted the physical and verbal abuse the defendant had endured, including a recent assault by a neighbor, which he attributed to the community’s awareness of his case. “He acknowledges the interests and proclivities he has been struggling with, which he admits are akin to an addiction,” Bailey explained. “While he has not acted on these urges recently, the treatment he has undergone has helped him recognize temptation and avoid acting on it. Although it has not completely stopped him from offending, it has reduced the frequency and severity of his actions.”

Judge’s verdict included ordering the destruction of all images and the computer involved in the case. Stidworthy was also prohibited from possessing cameras or mobile phones, required to attend a community sex offending program, and ordered to pay £350 in court costs. The sentence reflects the seriousness with which the court views such offenses, especially given Stidworthy’s prior criminal history.

It is important to note that this is not the first time Stidworthy’s name has been associated with criminal activity. In 2002, while serving as a Conservative councillor for Whoberley, he was convicted of indecent assault and making indecent images of children. That year, he was sentenced to nearly two years in prison and ordered to register as a sex offender for ten years. The earlier case involved a plea of guilty to assaulting a 15-year-old male prostitute and producing over 20,000 pornographic images, including 4,000 indecent images of young boys, which he had created for distribution.

Following his arrest in September 2002, police seized his computer and uncovered a disturbing collection of illegal material. The investigation revealed a long history of offending, which led to his suspension from the Conservative Party and his role as a councillor. The case has left a lasting stain on his reputation and has raised ongoing concerns about safeguarding and community safety in Coventry and Whoberley.