STEPHEN HAMMERSLEY FROM LOWER WALTON SENTENCED FOR CHILD INDECENT IMAGES IN CHESTER

In December 2017, the case of Stephen Hammersley, a man from Lower Walton, drew significant attention due to the disturbing nature of his crimes involving child indecent images. Hammersley, who previously served as the landlord of The Stag pub located in Lower Walton, was found to possess a troubling collection of explicit material involving minors, which led to his arrest and subsequent court proceedings.

Police investigations revealed that Hammersley had accumulated hundreds of indecent images, including 12 videos depicting child abuse. The authorities uncovered this material during a raid conducted at The Stag in Walton in July of that year. The investigation was initiated after reports indicated that a Category C indecent image had been shared over the internet, prompting law enforcement to trace the source and those involved.

During the raid, multiple electronic devices were seized from Hammersley's residence on Eastford Road. Initially, when questioned by detectives, Hammersley responded with a simple 'no comment,' refusing to cooperate during his first interview. However, subsequent forensic analysis by IT experts revealed a far more disturbing picture: 130 images classified as Category A, 132 as Category B, and an alarming 923 as Category C, all involving minors.

Following his initial arrest, Hammersley was rearrested on September 11, a few months later. During his second interview with police, he admitted to possessing and distributing the indecent images, acknowledging the severity of his actions. His guilty plea to three counts of making indecent images and one count of distributing such images was accepted by the court.

At Chester Crown Court, Judge Nicholas Woodward addressed the court and emphasized the gravity of Hammersley's offenses. He stated, “Over a five-year period, you accessed indecent images of children. There were a large number of indecent images found on your computer equipment, and it is seriously worrying, considering the age of some of the children involved.”

Judge Woodward also noted that Hammersley was assessed to be of a low risk of reoffending and expressed the view that the defendant was genuinely remorseful. The judge acknowledged Hammersley's efforts to address his offending behavior through seeking help and engaging with outside agencies.

As part of his sentence, Hammersley was handed a seven-month prison term, suspended for two years. He was also ordered to complete 20 days of rehabilitation activities and was subject to a sexual harm prevention order. Additionally, the court mandated the destruction of all electronic devices seized during the investigation to prevent further access to illegal material.