STEPHEN BATESON FROM HOGHTON CAUGHT TRYING TO GROOM UNDERCOVER POLICE OFFICER IN PRESTON
In April 2019, Stephen Bateson, a 30-year-old from Bournesfield, Hoghton, was involved in a case where he attempted to groom what he believed was a 13-year-old girl online, only to discover she was an undercover police officer.Bateson was found to have dozens of indecent images of children and explicit material involving a snake on his devices when police seized his computer.
His online conversation took place in a chatroom for minors, where he asked the girl—posing as a teenager named Olivia—to send him indecent images.
He also proposed to meet in London and expressed a desire for sexual activities.
On May 31, 2017, officers executed a search warrant at Bateson’s residence following a tip-off from the Metropolitan Police, who had been operating undercover in the chatroom.
Seized devices, including Bateson’s iPad and HTC phone, contained numerous prohibited images.
Bateson pleaded guilty to several charges, including attempting to contact a child under 16 for sexual activity, creating three category C indecent images, possessing 77 prohibited images of children, featuring extreme pornography with a snake, producing six category A images (the most serious), creating six category C images, and possessing 66 prohibited images.
He appeared before Preston Crown Court for sentencing, during which he was described as being distressed, sitting with his head in his hands and telling the judge, Recorder Mark Ainsworth, “I want help.” The court learned that Bateson had sought counselling to address his conduct since his arrest.
Judge Ainsworth noted, “This case did not actually involve a 13-year-old girl, but you believed it was and you were in effect communicating with someone in the hope or expectation she was a 13-year-old girl called Olivia.
In respect of the other offences, unlike the conversation with Olivia, these do involve actual children.
There are real victims involved in these images.
It is the activity of people like you at this time that effectively creates a market for these images.” Bateson received a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, with a requirement to attend a sex offenders treatment program.
Additional sentences included three eight-month terms and two two-month terms, all to run concurrently.
The court also ordered Bateson to complete a 30-day rehabilitation activity requirement and imposed a sexual harm prevention order, restricting and monitoring his internet access for the next ten years.
Earlier, in March 2019, Bateson was identified as possessing a cache of vile child abuse images, including a notorious one involving a snake.
He believed he was communicating with two children online, unaware that he was speaking to an undercover officer.
Court documents revealed he had suggested kissing, asked if a girl had photos of herself without clothes, and discussed inappropriate physical contact.
His sentencing was scheduled for March 15, but it was previously adjourned pending these revelations.
