STREATHAM SEX OFFENDER STEPHEN GALE JAILED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CRIMES

In a case that has shocked the local community, Stephen Gale, a 39-year-old man from Streatham, was sentenced to nine months in prison after being found guilty of possessing and downloading child pornography. The investigation revealed that Gale, who was unemployed at the time, resorted to using a friend’s computer in Streatham to access and save disturbing images of young boys, as he did not have internet access at his own residence.

According to court reports, Gale would travel to his friend’s house in Streatham armed with floppy disks, which he used to transfer the illicit images. These images, which he then copied onto CDs, were hidden around the house he shared with his elderly mother. The authorities uncovered his activities after a police raid on September 5 of the previous year, prompted by links between the address and child pornography websites.

During the raid, officers seized the computer used by Gale and discovered numerous images that he had attempted to delete. Subsequently, Gale voluntarily attended the police station, where he handed over a letter confessing responsibility for the material and revealing that he possessed more images at his home in Balfour Gardens, Ealing.

Prosecutor Isobel Ascherson stated during the hearing, “During his interview, Gale claimed that his interest was purely voyeuristic and sexually stimulating, and he insisted he had not been in contact with any children. He specified that he was interested in boys aged between 14 and 18.”

She further explained, “Gale admitted to saving a large collection of images—‘loads’—and said he had been collecting them for four or five years, with about two years of active downloading. He claimed to have around 30 discs filled with such material.”

The court was informed that Gale’s collection included a total of 1,241 images and videos, some of which depicted extremely disturbing acts, including a four-year-old boy being raped by an adult. Among these, 13 images were classified as the most serious, showing children subjected to sadomasochism and bestiality.

In his defense, Gale argued that he was suffering from depression at the time and was seeking help to address his issues. However, Judge Andrew Goymer sentenced him to nine months in prison, emphasizing the severity of the crimes. “These are appalling images,” the judge remarked. “Although the defendant was not responsible for their production, it must be remembered that every time such images are created and downloaded, a child is subjected to horrific sexual abuse somewhere in the world.”

Following his conviction, Gale was ordered to register as a sex offender for five years and was subjected to a sexual offences prevention order for ten years, which restricts his internet use to work-related activities only. Additionally, he was banned from working with children indefinitely. Gale pleaded guilty to 13 counts of making indecent images of children and two counts of possessing indecent images of children, marking a significant step in the ongoing fight against child exploitation.