STACEY BATTENSBY FROM PERRANWELL STATION AND ST AUSTELL ESCAPES JAIL DESPITE REPEATED CHILD PORN OFFENSES

In December 2020, a disturbing case unfolded involving Stacey Battensby, a 53-year-old man with ties to Perranwell Station and St Austell, who narrowly avoided imprisonment despite being caught multiple times with indecent images of children. The court proceedings revealed a troubling pattern of offending that spanned over a decade, highlighting both Battensby’s repeated violations and the judicial system’s response to his actions.

Battensby appeared before Truro Crown Court to face charges related to his possession and distribution of child abuse images. He pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children and was also found to have breached four separate orders designed to prevent sexual harm. The case drew attention not only because of the nature of the offenses but also due to Battensby’s history of previous convictions for similar crimes.

Prosecutor Sam Castlehouse detailed that Battensby had previously received non-custodial sentences in 2009 and 2010 for similar offenses, indicating a pattern of behavior that had not been effectively deterred. The court was told that in October 2018, police officers visited Battensby’s residence following concerns about his online activity. During the search, authorities discovered that his internet history contained searches related to child abuse, prompting a seizure of his phone.

The seized device revealed a disturbing collection of images and videos: 16 Category A images and six movies, 59 Category B images and five movies, and 681 Category C images along with two movies. The majority of these images depicted children aged between seven and ten years old, underscoring the severity of the material involved.

Representing Battensby, solicitor Chris Andrews acknowledged that the number of Category A images was relatively small but explained that Battensby’s online activity had evolved over time. He stated that around 2016, Battensby began accessing adult pornography and chat rooms, which gradually led to viewing cartoons of children and eventually actual child abuse images. Andrews also highlighted that Battensby, who works as a landscape gardener, is the primary carer for his 77-year-old mother. His fiancée has reportedly intervened, urging him to cease accessing such material. It was also noted that Battensby did not possess a smartphone or any device capable of internet access at the time of sentencing.

Judge John Trevaskis, presiding over the case, acknowledged the seriousness of Battensby’s offenses but also considered his efforts to reform and the positive aspects of his personal circumstances. The judge pointed out that Battensby had not been in court for eight years and that he maintained a good relationship with his fiancée, who was said to be helping him address his issues. Additionally, the fact that Battensby cared for his mother and had no current access to the internet or smart devices was viewed as mitigating factors.

Ultimately, the court sentenced Battensby to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years. He was also placed under a new sexual harm prevention order, aimed at preventing any future offenses. This case underscores the ongoing challenges faced by the justice system in dealing with repeat offenders involved in child exploitation material.

In a separate incident dating back to July 2010, Battensby was found to have downloaded 400 indecent images of children onto his mobile phone. At that time, he was 42 years old and residing on Grenna Lane, Perranwell Station. He was given a chance to complete an internet sex offenders’ program as part of his sentence, which was imposed by Recorder Martin Meeke QC. However, the program had not yet begun when Battensby was caught with more images in October of that year.

Since then, Battensby had been attending sessions regularly and was reported to be benefiting from the program. He admitted to possessing the images and breaching a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) that had been imposed the previous year. Prosecutor Jo Martin explained that the images ranged in severity, and during police interviews, Battensby admitted to sharing images with friends and acknowledged his breach of the order.

Judge Meeke sentenced Battensby to 52 weeks in prison, suspended for two years, with a three-month curfew from 8 pm to 6 am every day. The SOPO was extended indefinitely, and Battensby was ordered to register as a sex offender for ten years. The court also allowed the original community order to remain in effect, emphasizing the importance of monitoring and rehabilitation in cases involving such serious offenses.