WELLESBOURNE FERRY CAPTAIN STEPHEN ADEY INVOLVED IN CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND ONLINE PREDATION

In June 2011, Stephen Adey, a ferry captain based in Wellesbourne, found himself at the center of a disturbing criminal case involving the possession of indecent images of children and online deception. Adey, who was employed as a skipper on the Stena Nordica, a vessel operating between Holyhead and Dublin Port, was charged with multiple offenses related to child exploitation and indecency.

It was revealed that Adey had downloaded and stored explicit images depicting minors, some as young as two years old, which he accessed through his personal computer. The police investigation uncovered a total of 37 child pornography images, some of which depicted sexual acts involving very young girls. These images were described as highly explicit, raising serious concerns about the nature of his activities.

Further complicating the case was Adey's online behavior. He admitted to creating a fictitious persona named “Gemma,” a 16-year-old girl, on social networking sites. His intention was to pose as a teenage girl, which he used to visit websites linked to naturism—a personal interest of his. Adey explained to authorities that he had created this persona because he believed that single men visiting such naturist sites were unwelcome, and he sought to explore this interest discreetly. However, his actions extended beyond mere curiosity, as he also downloaded inappropriate images and engaged in online deception.

During the court proceedings, Judge Merfyn Hughes QC expressed his concern over Adey's psychological state, suggesting that he appeared to have “deep-rooted problems.” The judge noted that Adey’s behavior was not casual browsing but involved deliberate creation of a female identity, which indicated a pattern of predatory conduct. It was also highlighted that Adey had a prior conviction for indecent assault, which added weight to the seriousness of his current offenses.

Despite the gravity of the charges, the judge decided against immediate imprisonment, citing Adey’s personal circumstances. He explained that Adey was awaiting a kidney transplant for his son and that this health issue was a significant factor in his decision. The judge suspended the eight-month jail sentence for 18 months, emphasizing that Adey would be closely supervised by probation officers and required to participate in a sex offenders’ rehabilitation program.

In court, Adey’s defense lawyer, Simon Mills, provided context about his client’s family situation. He stated that Adey’s wife suffers from multiple sclerosis, and his son was on the kidney transplant list. Mills emphasized that Adey was remorseful and beginning to understand the gravity of his actions. The lawyer also mentioned that Adey was the primary breadwinner for his family and that his wife was present in court, fully aware of the case’s details and supporting her husband.

Prosecutor Tom Morgan Jones recounted that Adey, who was employed by Stena Line in July 2009, had been found to have indecent material on a computer accessible to him at work. A colleague had discovered the inappropriate content, leading to Adey’s arrest. Police seized a computer and an MP3 player from his residence, where further examination revealed the disturbing images. Although Adey admitted to accessing indecent images on a Stena-owned computer, the police did not seize that particular device during their investigation.

As part of his sentence, Adey was ordered to sign the sex offenders register for ten years and to undergo supervision and a specialized sex offenders’ program. His previous cautions for indecent assault and his current offenses paint a troubling picture of a man with a history of inappropriate behavior, raising ongoing concerns about his potential risk to the community.