HYNDBURN MAN STEPHEN BARSALLOTTI CAUGHT WITH CHILD ABUSE IMAGES IN CHURCH STREET

In December 2019, authorities took action against a man from Hyndburn named Stephen Barsellotti after he became the subject of a police investigation due to a concerning online activity. The incident began when Barsellotti, aged 59, posted what appeared to be an indecent image of a child on the social media platform Tumblr, which prompted law enforcement to initiate a formal inquiry.

Following this initial lead, police officers conducted a thorough examination of his mobile phone and computer devices. The investigation uncovered disturbing evidence: child pornography material depicting minors as young as eight or nine years old. These findings revealed a troubling pattern of illegal activity involving the exploitation of young children.

At Burnley Crown Court, Barsellotti pleaded guilty to three separate charges related to the creation and possession of indecent images of children. His residence was identified as being on Church Street, in the area of Church, Hyndburn. The court proceedings highlighted the severity of his offenses and the disturbing nature of the material involved.

In response to his guilty plea, the judge, Sara Dodd, delivered her sentence, which included a two-year community order. As part of this sentence, Barsellotti was mandated to participate in 40 days of rehabilitation activities aimed at addressing his underlying issues. Additionally, he was subjected to a two-month curfew, restricting his movements during specified hours.

Judge Dodd acknowledged the steps Barsellotti had taken to confront his troubling sexual interests, noting that these efforts were considered during sentencing. Despite this, the court emphasized the seriousness of his crimes and the need for ongoing supervision and intervention to prevent further offenses.