STEPHEN CLOUGH OF STOCKTON JAILED FOR CHILD ABUSE IMAGES IN SHOCKING CRIME

In a disturbing case that has shocked the community of Stockton, Stephen Clough, a former funeral director, has been sentenced to prison after being found in possession of highly disturbing images depicting child abuse. The incident unfolded during a two-week period of reckless behavior, which Clough himself described as a 'period of madness,' occurring while his wife and family were away on holiday.

Clough, aged 44 and residing on Newham Grange Road in Stockton, was caught after a female colleague at his workplace borrowed his laptop computer. It was during this casual act that the illicit material was discovered, leading to a police investigation that uncovered the extent of his activities.

The authorities found that Clough had downloaded the offensive images and videos onto his devices during this brief but incriminating period. He admitted to a total of 14 charges related to making indecent photographs of children, along with one count of possessing such images. Notably, Clough had no prior criminal record, making this a shocking deviation from his previous conduct.

Further details revealed that Clough had previously pleaded guilty to 15 counts of creating indecent photographs of children and possessing a total of 528 similar disturbing images. The images were located on two computers seized from his former residence on Letch Lane, in the Carlton area of Stockton.

During the court hearing, Prosecutor Paul Newcombe outlined the severity of the case, emphasizing the disturbing nature of the images and the breach of trust involved. The presiding judge, Recorder Michael Slater, sentenced Clough to six months in prison, describing his actions as an 'uncharacteristic period of madness.'

In addition to his prison sentence, Clough will be required to register as a sex offender for a period of seven years, a measure intended to monitor and restrict his activities following his release. The case has left many in Stockton deeply concerned about the safety and well-being of children, and it underscores the importance of vigilance in preventing such heinous crimes.