STEPHEN CARRUTHERS FROM GREAT LANGLEDALE JAILED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY IN CUMBRIA AND FRANCE

In April 2017, a man named Stephen Carruthers, aged 44, was sentenced to a substantial prison term after a lengthy investigation into his possession and distribution of a vast number of indecent images of children. The case highlights the serious nature of child exploitation crimes and the efforts of law enforcement agencies across borders to bring offenders to justice.

Stephen Carruthers was initially arrested in 2014 at his residence in Great Langdale, a village in Cumbria. During that arrest, authorities discovered approximately 5,000 indecent images stored on his devices. Faced with these serious charges, Carruthers was released on bail but chose to abscond, fleeing the UK to avoid prosecution. His decision to go on the run marked the beginning of a nearly three-year period during which he evaded law enforcement efforts.

His escape did not end his legal troubles. In January 2017, Carruthers was involved in a road traffic accident in France. The incident prompted French authorities to conduct background checks, which revealed that he was wanted in the United Kingdom. During the subsequent investigation, law enforcement officials seized his laptop, uncovering over 1,000 additional indecent images of children. This discovery further implicated Carruthers in the ongoing investigation and underscored the severity of his offending.

Victoria Atkinson, the Senior Crown Prosecutor representing CPS North West, emphasized the gravity of the case. She stated, “Stephen Carruthers was arrested three years ago at his home in Cumbria for possessing a huge amount of indecent images of children. He then skipped bail, fled the country, adopted a new identity, and committed further offences whilst on the run. The CPS worked with the French authorities to extradite him back to the UK on a European Arrest Warrant to face both the original charges and to be further charged in relation to the images found on his laptop in France.”

She further explained, “The prosecution has presented a strong case to the court which has resulted in him today receiving a custodial sentence. Viewing and downloading indecent images of children is not a victimless crime. It contributes to the cycle of harm suffered by victims of child sexual abuse and exploitation.”

Detective Sergeant James Bailey from the Digital Media Investigation Unit added, “I hope that this case will act as a deterrent to those who believe that they can get away with any form of child abuse. Carruthers attempted to evade justice by going on the run for almost three years. Following his capture in France, his new devices were interrogated and we found further evidence of him making indecent images even when on the run.”

As a result of his conviction, Carruthers was sentenced to three years and eight months in prison at Carlisle Crown Court. Additionally, he was subjected to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life, ensuring ongoing monitoring and restrictions to prevent further offending. This case underscores the persistent efforts of law enforcement agencies across different countries to combat child exploitation and bring offenders to justice, regardless of their attempts to evade capture.