SIMON STONE FROM LONGTON ESCAPES JAIL AFTER CHILD PORNOGRAPHY SCANDAL IN STOKE-ON-TRENT

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Longton, Simon Stone, aged 53, was found to have been involved in the possession and distribution of a vast collection of child sexual abuse images spanning over a decade. The investigation, carried out by officers from Operation Safenet, uncovered a significant cache of illegal material during a raid on his residence in September 2021.

Authorities visited Stone’s home in Longton and seized multiple electronic devices. A forensic analysis of these devices revealed a horrifying collection of indecent images and videos of children. Specifically, six devices contained a total of 359 images classified as Category A, which denotes the most severe level of abuse, along with 323 images in Category B, and over 75,000 images in Category C, which are considered less severe but still illegal. The content included both still photographs and moving videos, amounting to approximately 124 hours of footage depicting children in distress and pain.

During the investigation, police confirmed that search terms used on the devices suggested a sexual interest in children. The forensic examination also uncovered evidence of searches for images involving young children, indicating a disturbing pattern of behavior. Stone was arrested at his Longton home on September 23, 2021, and during police interviews, he chose to remain silent, only confirming his residence with his mother, with whom he had lived for 51 years.

Prosecutor Jonathan Dickinson detailed the extent of the illegal material found, emphasizing the severity of the case. He stated, “Six devices were found to contain indecent images across all three categories or search terms indicating a sexual interest in children or use of file-sharing software. The forensic examination showed a total of 359 Category A images, 323 Category B images, and more than 75,000 Category C images of children.”

Mr. Dickinson also highlighted the disturbing nature of some of the content, noting that “some of the children depicted were in pain or distress,” and that there was clear evidence of searching for images involving young children. Stone pleaded guilty to three charges of making indecent images of children.

At Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court, Judge Graeme Smith sentenced Stone to 12 months in prison, but the sentence was suspended for 18 months. The judge acknowledged the widespread issue of child pornography in society and commented on the defendant’s progression from lawful pornography to more illegal material. He noted that although most images were of the lowest severity (Category C), the long duration of offending and the presence of videos showing children in real pain were particularly troubling.

Judge Smith also emphasized that Stone had no previous convictions and expressed some degree of remorse. As part of his sentence, Stone is required to complete a 25-day rehabilitation activity requirement and perform 150 hours of unpaid work. Additionally, he was placed under a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for ten years and registered as a sex offender for the same period, ensuring ongoing monitoring and restrictions to protect the public from potential harm.